Bitwise to Launch 2nd U.S. Chainlink ETF (CLNK) on February 1
Bitwise Asset Management, which oversees a $15 billion-plus pile of assets, has ticked off the final regulatory box for its spot Chainlink.
Quick overview
- Bitwise Asset Management has received regulatory approval for its spot Chainlink ETF, set to be listed on NYSE Arca under the ticker CLNK.
- Trading for the ETF will not begin until February 1st, 2026, making it the second Chainlink ETF available to US investors.
- The ETF aims to attract significant inflows with a competitive fee structure and institutional-grade custody, although it currently does not support LINK staking.
- Despite a recent dip in LINK's price, analysts believe the ETF launch could increase demand for the token in the digital asset ecosystem.
Bitwise Asset Management, which oversees a $15 billion-plus pile of assets, has ticked off the final regulatory box for its spot Chainlink exchange-traded fund (ETF). And the proof is in a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which confirms that the registration has become effective, which is jargon for “it can now get listed on the NYSE Arca under the ticker CLNK.
Even though approval clears the way for trading to kick off straight away, Bitwise has decided to put the brakes on, at least for the time being. As per its Form 424B3 prospectus, the company plans to start using the new prospectus from February 1st, 2026. This means that CLNK will be available to US investors in the ETF market from then on. By then, its availability opens the fund up as the second Chainlink ETF (after the Grayscale Chainlink ETF) available to American investors. It is worth noting that Grayscale did the same thing in December.
This approval is yet another sign that the SEC has become more and more accepting of regulated cryptocurrency investment vehicles – they’re not just for Bitcoin and Ethereum anymore. They’re now looking at infrastructure-focused tokens like Chainlink as well.
🇺🇸 THE FIRST U.S. CHAINLINK ETF IS APPROVED.
The SEC's approval of Bitwise's Chainlink spot ETF marks a pivotal development, enabling the asset's first regulated entry into the American stock market.
$LINK’s all-time high is around $52.70, and it’s still more than 70% below… pic.twitter.com/I0f74DZwdG
— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) January 7, 2026
Fees, Custody, and Staking – Questions Remain
The Bitwise Chainlink ETF is being built to attract some pretty healthy inflows straight off the bat by offering a really competitive fee scheme and some proper institutional-grade custody. The fund will track the CME CF Chainlink-Dollar Reference Rate (New York Variant), which aligns with well-established benchmark standards.
Bitwise has been pretty open with the details of how this all works – but there are a few key things we still don’t know yet:
- For three months, the 0.34% management fee is waived.
- This fee waiver applies to the first $500 million in assets under management.
- Coinbase Custody Trust Company is handling the custody duties.
- BNY Mellon is looking after the cash side of things.
- There’s a $2.5 million initial seed investment – or 100,000 shares, if you will.
A notable gap is that the ETF does not currently support LINK staking. Although Bitwise has named its preferred provider (Attestant Ltd), staking is still a no-go, and that’s likely down to the SEC’s caution and the market still being a bit uncertain. This delay may give the folks at Bitwise the time they need to get the green light on this one.
What Impact Will This Have on Markets, and What’s Happening with LINK?
The arrival of another US-listed Chainlink ETF is a big deal – for both institutional and retail investors looking to get in on some regulated action with the Chainlink network, which is a key part of the oracle infrastructure used in decentralised finance.
🚨 SEC APPROVES BITWISE SPOT $LINK ETF
Chainlink has made its entry onto Wall Street! Bitwise has received the green signal for listing its Chainlink ETF $CLNK on NYSE Arca.
It will trade under the symbol $CLNK on the NYSE. The ETF is expected to launch this week. There will be… pic.twitter.com/ITTF89IOOQ
— Crypto Aman (@cryptoamanclub) January 6, 2026
We can get an idea of how this is going to play out by looking at the Grayscale Chainlink ETF, which has been doing pretty well for itself – $63 million in net inflows and over $85 million in assets under management. And once again, we see Grayscale temporarily waiving that 0.35% fee until they hit $1 billion in AUM – the competition is starting to heat things a bit.
In the short-term, though, LINK’s price has actually softened a bit – down about 3% to $13.19 over the past 24 hours, and trading volume is down nearly 20%. Derivatives data from CoinGlass shows futures open interest is down about 5%, and that’s likely related to the more cautious mood that seems to have taken over the markets right now, especially with all the US macroeconomic data coming out.
Even though things are looking a bit shaky right now, some analysts think that the CLNK launch is actually a pretty big deal for LINK – and they’re predicting sustained ETF inflows will drive up demand for the token, making it an even more core part of the digital asset ecosystem.
- Check out our free forex signals
- Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
- Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
- Open a FREE Trading Account
Save