Chainlink has introduced a new program, Chainlink Rewards, aiming to enhance community engagement and reward LINK stakers. Starting May 8, 2025, stakers can claim SXT tokens, marking a notable shift in Chainlink’s reward distribution approach.

Chainlink and Space and Time spearhead this initiative. Chainlink is led by co-founder Sergey Nazarov. This change integrates Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network with Space and Time’s decentralized data services, utilizing zero-knowledge proofs.

The initiative aims to incentivize more LINK holders to stake, potentially raising Chainlink’s staking participation rate. Community members view this as a pilot season with experimental value, prompting cautious optimism about future reward structures.

The absence of institutional involvement is noted, yet the program draws strength from the Chainlink Build partnership. Financially, this move could amplify the value of LINK by increasing its utility and demand among ecosystem participants.

Previous Chainlink staking events mostly distributed LINK rewards. This initiative, offering a partner’s native tokens, introduces a new precedent. Similar DeFi events like token incentives for liquidity providers show success in participant engagement.

Experts anticipate a rise in staking participation due to these rewards. Historical trends suggest that third-party token incentives can encourage long-term network engagement and align strategic interests among involved entities.

“We’re excited to introduce Chainlink Rewards—a community engagement and rewards program designed to incentivize active participation in the Chainlink Network. The program enables Chainlink Build projects to make their native tokens claimable by Chainlink ecosystem participants, including eligible LINK Stakers.” – Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder, Chainlink