Chainlink has made a significant advancement by launching its 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams, which provides reliable onchain data for U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across all trading sessions. This initiative opens up the approximately $80 trillion U.S. equity market to decentralized finance (DeFi) in a transformative way.
Traditionally, blockchains operate continuously, functioning 24/7 without interruption, while U.S. equity markets follow a more limited schedule. Most existing data feeds typically offer just a single price during standard trading hours, leaving gaps when markets are closed. This missing information can substantially heighten risks for onchain trading and create barriers for developers looking to innovate.
However, the newly introduced 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams from Chainlink aim to mitigate these issues. The service delivers fast and cryptographically secure market data that encompasses regular, pre-market, post-market, and overnight trading sessions. Builders using this data can access not only midpoint prices but also bid and ask prices, trading volumes, last traded prices, market status indicators, and freshness signals for the data received.
This launch comes at a crucial moment for the blockchain ecosystem, as the integration of real-world assets into the digital sphere is gaining traction. Experts estimate that tokenized real-world assets could swell to $30 trillion by 2030, driven by improved access and capital efficiency. Unfortunately, equities have historically lagged behind other asset classes, like bonds and stablecoins, due to limitations in data availability.
Notably, projects like Lighter.xyz, a prominent decentralized exchange (DEX), have begun utilizing Chainlink’s streams as their official real-world asset oracle. By leveraging this new data service, Lighter is poised to enhance low-latency trading options that extend beyond conventional trading hours.
The reach of Chainlink’s infrastructure is already significant, with data streams available across more than 40 blockchains. This framework has secured approximately 70% of oracle-related DeFi activity. To date, Chainlink has facilitated over $27 trillion in transaction value and delivered upwards of 19 billion verified onchain messages, establishing itself as a pivotal player in the realm of decentralized finance.
In a corresponding development, BitMEX has integrated Chainlink’s Data Streams to enhance the accuracy of its Equity Perpetuals offerings. This integration enables traders to engage with U.S. stock markets around the clock, facilitating trading in popular stocks like Nvidia, Tesla, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. By eliminating the traditional wait for market open, BitMEX allows its users to trade at any time, including weekends.
With sub-second precision and institutional-grade accuracy, BitMEX provides a platform where traders can leverage digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) to take both long and short positions. This development represents a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto landscape, paving the way for more integrated trading practices.
As the landscape continually evolves, the integration of secure, real-time data streams becomes essential for the growth of DeFi markets and the overall synergy between traditional finance and decentralized platforms.
