Chainlink and TAO Ventures Launch Project Rubicon to Enable Cross-Chain Liquid Staking

Chainlink has partnered with General TAO Ventures to launch Project Rubicon, an initiative that utilizes Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to bridge Bittensor's subnet alpha tokens to the Base network. This collaboration, announced on November 19, 2025, enables non-custodial liquid staking, converting native subnet alpha tokens into ERC-20 compatible assets called xAlpha. These tokens can then be used across various DeFi protocols, such as AerodromeFi, enhancing liquidity and cross-chain functionality.

Chainlink's native token, LINK, has faced significant price pressure, dropping to $13.31 and marking a 50% decline from its August peak of $27. Technical analysis highlights key resistance at $14, with crucial support identified at $12.67 by analyst DevKhabib. If LINK reclaims and holds above $14, potential upside targets could reach $20, representing a 50% gain from current levels. The MACD indicator shows weakening bearish momentum, while the Average Directional Index reads 37, indicating a strong trend.

Project Rubicon aims to increase safe cross-chain activity and capital efficiency within the Bittensor ecosystem, with future plans to support additional staking solutions like xTAO. The integration of CCIP on Bittensor EVM allows developers to build cross-chain applications, potentially driving long-term adoption and price recovery for LINK amid broader market downturns.