Bitwise Chainlink ETF has officially announced its launch date in a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This follows its auto-effective approval to trade under the ticker ‘CLNK’ on NYSE Arca. The upcoming launch is particularly notable as it will position the Bitwise Chainlink ETF alongside the Grayscale Chainlink ETF (GLNK), which debuted in December. Market analysts suggest that the introduction of this new financial product may lead to a significant increase in the price of LINK, as optimism surrounding the cryptocurrency market continues to build.
Bitwise, a prominent cryptocurrency asset manager with approximately $15 billion in assets under management (AUM), recently cleared the final regulatory approval needed for its Chainlink ETF. With the SEC permitting the registration to become effective, trading is set to begin under the designated ticker.
However, Bitwise has opted to delay the actual launch date. According to a 424B3 form submitted to the SEC, the company plans to make its prospectus effective on February 1, 2026. This postponement may have been influenced by various regulatory considerations and the current volatility in the crypto landscape. Extended timelines could also allow Bitwise to finalize its staking arrangements; while the company has expressed a preference for Attestant Ltd as a potential staking provider, LINK staking has yet to be enabled.
In a strategic move to attract initial investments, Bitwise has announced that it will waive its management fee of 0.34% for the first three months, applicable to investments up to $500 million in AUM. Custodial duties will be managed by Coinbase Custody Trust Company, and the ETF will track the CME CF Chainlink-Dollar Reference Rate (New York Variant). Bitwise Investment Manager LLC is expected to kickstart the investment by purchasing an initial basket of shares worth $2.5 million, translating to 100,000 shares priced at $25 each, with BNY Mellon acting as the cash custodian.
The upcoming launch could represent a pivotal moment for both institutional and retail investors looking for regulated access to the Chainlink ecosystem. Analysts predict robust demand for CLNK, potentially leading to substantial inflows that may support a further increase in LINK prices.
Reflecting on the broader market sentiment, the Grayscale Chainlink ETF has seen inflows of $63.32 million this year, contributing to total assets exceeding $85 million. This surge followed Grayscale’s decision to waive its 0.35% management fee for a three-month period until the ETF reached $1 billion in AUM.
As for LINK’s current performance, it has experienced a slight setback, dropping 3% over the preceding 24 hours to trade at $13.19. The cryptocurrency has fluctuated within a range of $13.24 to $13.90. Additionally, trading volume has plummeted nearly 20% in the same timeframe, signaling a reduction in trader interest, likely influenced by new U.S. job data releases. Derivatives market activity has also shown signs of selling, with total LINK futures open interest declining by almost 5%, now standing at $632.86 million.
