NFT REVIEW How to Stake LINK and Claim Tokens in Chainlink Rewards Season 1

If you staked LINK before November 3, 2025 in Chainlink Staking v0.1 or v0.2, you’re eligible for Chainlink Rewards Season 1—a program that lets long-term supporters claim project tokens from leading teams in Web3. This guide walks through how Cubes work, how to allocate them, and what you can expect during the reward period. For newcomers, it also outlines how to prepare for future reward opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Chainlink staking strengthens the network and grants access to reward opportunities from Build projects.

• Season 1 introduces Cubes, a point-based system tied to historical staking activity.

• Nine Build projects are distributing part of their token supply to eligible LINK stakers.

• Allocations take place offchain, letting participants choose which projects they want rewards from.

• A 90-day unlock schedule and optional Early Unlock create additional incentives for patient stakers.

Understanding Chainlink and Its Growing Ecosystem

I’ve watched Chainlink grow from a simple oracle provider into a full infrastructure network that connects blockchains to real-world data, payments, and cross-chain communication. Its technology now powers areas like AI-driven analytics, tokenized real-world assets, gaming, DePIN, lending markets, and institutional finance.

This growth has turned Chainlink into a backbone of Web3 reliability. As more protocols rely on Chainlink services—such as CCIP for cross-chain messaging or Automation for onchain logic—the need for security increases. That’s where staking enters the picture.

What Chainlink Staking Actually Does

Chainlink staking allows LINK holders to contribute to the network’s integrity. By locking up their tokens, stakers signal long-term commitment and help secure oracle operations.

Here’s what staking offers:

• Network security: Staked LINK helps protect against misreported data.

• Stronger reputation: Long-term stakers earn credibility and influence in the ecosystem.

• Access to Rewards: Historical staking in v0.1 and v0.2 determines eligibility for Season 1 Cubes.

Staking isn’t just a passive action. It’s a way of supporting many of the protocols that rely on Chainlink for accurate price feeds, automation triggers, cross-chain transfers, and more.

Introducing Chainlink Rewards Season 1

Season 1 builds on the success of the pilot phase—Season Genesis—where Space and Time allocated 100 million SXT tokens to eligible LINK stakers. Season 1 expands far beyond that.

This time, nine Build projects are involved:

• Dolomite

• Space and Time

• XSwap

• Brickken

• Folks Finance

• Mind Network

• Suku

• Truflation

• bitsCrunch

These teams represent a wide spectrum of Web3 activity, from lending and tokenized assets to encrypted computation and onchain analytics.

How Cubes Work — The Core of the Rewards System

Cubes act like loyalty points for past staking activity. They’re not tokens, they can’t be traded, and they carry no cash value. Instead, they represent your share of potential rewards.

Here’s what determines your Cube balance:

All balances were recorded during a snapshot on November 3, 2025. No new Cubes are generated during Season 1.

Think of Cubes as your personal claim allocation across participating projects.

Allocating Your Cubes

Starting November 11, 2025, eligible stakers can access rewards.chain.link to see their Cube balance. Before allocating Cubes to a project, users complete a short quiz. This encourages participants to understand each project’s purpose and technology.

Allocation works like this:

• Allocate Cubes to any combination of projects.

• Spread them thin or put everything into one.

• Adjust as often as you like until December 9.

• All actions occur offchain with no gas fees.

Once the final snapshot is taken, Cube allocations become locked, and the redemption rates for each project are set.

Claiming Rewards in Season 1

Token claims begin on December 16, 2025, using a 90-day linear unlock schedule. Users can:

• Claim tokens gradually as they unlock, or

• Wait until the end of the period to save gas.

Tokens unlock automatically in each block, so participants can choose their timing.

Chainlink also introduced an Early Unlock mechanic. It lets users claim a portion of their locked tokens ahead of schedule but forfeits the rest. Forfeited tokens then move into the Loyalty Pool, which rewards patient participants at the end of the cycle.

This mechanism incentivizes planning and rewards thoughtful participation.

A Closer Look at Season 1 Build Projects

Each Build project contributes something different to the Chainlink landscape. Here’s a snapshot of what they offer:

• Dolomite – DeFi money market using Chainlink Automation, Data Feeds, and CCIP

• Space and Time – Decentralized data warehouse with Chainlink Functions and CCIP

• XSwap – Cross-chain trading ecosystem using CCIP and AI analytics

• Brickken – Institutional platform for tokenized assets using Proof of Reserve and CCIP

• Folks Finance – Lending protocol with Chainlink Data Feeds and CCIP

• Mind Network – FHE-enabled encrypted computation with Chainlink CCIP

• Suku – Consumer Web3 tools with Functions, Automation, and CCIP

• Truflation – Real-time index provider using Data Streams and Automation

• bitsCrunch – AI blockchain analytics using Chainlink VRF

Can You Still Earn Cubes?

No. Cubes were assigned based on historical participation before the snapshot. However, participating in Season 1 still gives users exposure to some of the most active Web3 projects through token distribution.

How to Earn Value Through Chainlink

Here are the main ways to engage with the ecosystem:

• Stake LINK to support the network and gain access to Rewards

• Allocate Cubes strategically in Season 1

• Hold project tokens earned through participation

• Support ecosystem growth through long-term engagement

Chainlink doesn’t offer traditional yield. Instead, it offers participatory rewards and early access to new Web3 technologies.

Final Thoughts

Chainlink Rewards Season 1 demonstrates a practical model for distributing project tokens based on user participation and long-term commitment. By linking historical staking activity to real utility within the Chainlink ecosystem, the program encourages sustained involvement from LINK holders.

Whether you’re looking to support emerging Web3 infrastructure or diversify your exposure through token distributions, Season 1 offers a structured, transparent way to engage with Chainlink-powered projects.