Liquid staking platform Stader Integrates Chainlink CCIP for Secure Cross-chain Transfers

The Chainlink Convergence Hackathon has concluded with **554 submissions**, marking a significant increase from the previous Chromion Hackathon's 400+ projects. The winning teams are developing **institutional-grade applications** using Chainlink's infrastructure. These projects represent the latest wave of builders leveraging Chainlink to connect real-world data and systems to blockchain networks. Full details on the winning projects and their implementations are available in the [official announcement](https://blog.chain.link/convergence-hackathon-winners/).

Chainlink reported 18 new integrations across 9 services and 22 different chains in early April 2026. **Key Integrations:** - Major platforms including Aave, Coinbase, and GMX adopted Chainlink services - New partners: Apyx Finance, Edel Finance, FinChain, Multiplifi, OpenDelta, Takadao, and Vyro Finance **Recent Developments:** - **Aave V4 launch** powered by Chainlink as exclusive oracle platform, supporting $47B+ in deposits - **Multiplifi** scaled distribution of $340M+ rwaUSD stablecoin using CCIP and NAV Data Feeds - **FinChain** adopted Chainlink to distribute tokenized assets across Asia - **Regulatory clarity**: U.S. SEC and CFTC officially classified LINK as a digital commodity The integrations span cross-chain transfers, lending protocols, stablecoin infrastructure, and governance automation across multiple blockchain networks.

The Bank of Canada released a report examining Aave's decentralized lending protocol, concluding that **DeFi lending is technically and operationally viable**. Key findings: - The system operates continuously and transparently - Functions with minimal overhead compared to traditional intermediaries - Demonstrates that lending can work without conventional banking infrastructure The report highlights the role of **Chainlink oracles** in enabling DeFi lending at scale. These oracles have secured trillions of dollars in deposit and borrow volume for Aave markets over more than five years of operation. This marks a significant validation from a major central bank, acknowledging that decentralized financial infrastructure can function reliably for lending services.

**S&P Global Ratings has partnered with Chainlink to publish its Stablecoin Stability Assessments (SSAs) onchain for the first time through DataLink.** This integration allows over 2,400 institutions, protocols, and developers in the Chainlink ecosystem to access these assessments across 40+ blockchains. **Key Details:** - SSAs evaluate stablecoins' ability to maintain parity with fiat currencies - Assessments scored from 1 (very strong) to 5 (weak) - Based on asset quality, governance, liquidity, and redemption mechanisms - Delivered with Chainlink's security infrastructure The stablecoin market now exceeds $300 billion, nearly doubling from a year prior. With the passage of the GENIUS Act establishing the first U.S. federal regulatory framework for stablecoins, institutions require transparent, standardized risk insights for responsible integration. This follows recent partnerships bringing institutional-grade data onchain, including Coinbase exchange data and Unichain's integration of Chainlink Data Feeds. [Full announcement](https://x.com/chainlink/status/1978076403611435191?s=20)

Bridge aggregator **LiFi Protocol** has integrated **Chainlink** to enable seamless, one-click cross-chain wstETH staking across multiple platforms. **Key Components:** - Chainlink provides cross-chain security infrastructure - Lido Finance offers liquid staking liquidity - LiFi Protocol delivers unified API for wallets and frontends **Now Available On:** - Jumper Exchange - MetaMask - Rabby - Phantom The integration eliminates traditional friction points including app-hopping, DEX slippage, and bridge wait times through **CCIP Direct Staking**, providing instant access to cross-chain yield opportunities. This collaboration streamlines the Ethereum staking experience by combining Chainlink's security, Lido's deep liquidity, and LiFi's aggregation technology into a single, user-friendly interface. [Read full details](https://li.fi/knowledge-hub/wsteth-is-now-one-click-away-heres-what-made-it-possible/)