The New York Stock Exchange Arca (NYSE Arca) has formally approved the listing and registration of the Bitwise Chainlink ETF, clearing the way for trading to begin as early as today, January 14, 2026. According to an approval letter dated January 13, 2026, NYSE Arca certified the listing of the common shares of the ETF under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, confirming that all exchange-side requirements have been satisfied.
The authorization allows NYSE Arca to list and trade shares of the Bitwise Chainlink ETF, which provides regulated exposure to Chainlink (LINK). The ETF's shares will trade under the ticker CLNK. The fund will directly hold LINK tokens, but will not participate in staking activities initially, with Bitwise planning to seek approval for staking as a future goal.
The product is designed to offer investors exposure to LINK's market price through regular brokerage accounts, eliminating the need for direct custody of the tokens. The management fee is set at 0.34%, with Bitwise waiving the full sponsor fee for the first three months on the first $500 million in assets to benefit early investors.
Custody arrangements involve established financial institutions: Coinbase Custody Trust Company will secure the digital assets, while BNY Mellon will handle cash custody. This structure aims to bolster investor confidence and regulatory compliance. The approval, addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Corporation Finance, confirms the ETF's compliance with existing regulatory standards.
This development adds Chainlink, the 20th largest cryptocurrency by market cap (approximately $9.92 billion), to the growing roster of crypto-linked ETFs on U.S. exchanges. It reflects continued institutional expansion beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum products and reinforces NYSE Arca's role as a primary venue for digital asset investment products.
