The Bitwise Chainlink ETF has been approved for listing on the NYSE Arca Exchange

SEC approval document

The approval, effective immediately following the SEC's declaration of its effective date of January 13, 2026, marks the first spot ETF listed in the U.S. to offer direct access to Chainlink's native token, LINK.

The Bitwise Chainlink ETF will hold LINK tokens directly in a secure, institutionally certified custodial account (via Coinbase Custody and BitGo), without using leverage, lending, or derivatives. The fund is structured to track the spot price of LINK, minus an expense ratio of 0.85% — competitive with existing spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

Trading begins on January 15, 2026, with authorized participants (APs) able to create and redeem physical shares using LINK or cash equivalents. This follows the same legal process that enabled spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and Ethereum ETFs in July 2024.

Chainlink Bridge to Crypto Stack

Chainlink is not just a typical Layer-1 token or speculative token. It functions as a dominant decentralized oracle network, enabling smart contracts to securely access off-chain data such as prices, interest rates, foreign exchange, commodities, and event outcomes.

Today, Chainlink is the foundation of:

• DeFi protocols manage tens of billions of dollars in value.

• Stablecoin pricing and collateral system.

• Real Assets Tokenized (RWA).

• Hybrid infrastructure combining TradFi and DeFi.

By approving the Chainlink ETF, regulators are implicitly recognizing oracles as systemic cryptocurrency infrastructure, rather than a fringe experiment.

Market impact on LINK

The approval itself is a positive structural signal for LINK. ETFs expand the investor base, increase liquidity, ease barriers to institutional capital allocation, and integrate this asset into traditional portfolio structures.

Although short-term price reactions may be volatile, the long-term significance is that LINK can now be valued alongside stocks, commodities, and other alternative assets within a regulated legal framework.

Our perspective

The SEC's approval of the Bitwise Chainlink ETF is a significant milestone for Chainlink and the decentralized oracle sector. By providing regulated access to LINK through brokerage firms, this ETF opens the door for institutional capital to flow into infrastructure supporting DeFi, RWA, and cross-chain ecosystems.

As crypto assets continue to expand to trillions of dollars as expected, Chainlink's role as a leading oracle network will facilitate this ETF attracting significant interest. With trading expected to begin tomorrow (January 15, 2026), initial trading volume, capital inflows, and institutional participation will be closely watched — potentially marking the start of a new wave of altcoin ETF approvals and widespread adoption in 2026.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is the author's personal opinion in the field of cryptocurrency. This is not financial or investment advice. All investment decisions should be based on careful consideration of your personal portfolio and risk tolerance. The views expressed in this article do not represent the official stance of the platform. We recommend that readers conduct their own research and consult with experts before making any investment decisions.

Compiled and analyzed by HCCVenture

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