Bitwise Asset Management has confirmed the launch timeline for its spot Chainlink ETF after its registration statement became effective with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund has cleared the last regulatory step before trading and is set to list on NYSE Arca under the ticker CLNK, though trading will not begin immediately after the clearance.
A Form 424B3 prospectus filed with the SEC shows Bitwise plans to first use the registration on February 1, 2026. That points to a February launch window rather than a same-day listing. With auto-effectiveness in place, the issuer can finish operational preparation before the product starts trading.
Second spot LINK fund for U.S. investors
Once it goes live, the Bitwise ETF will become the second U.S. spot fund giving investors exposure to LINK, following the earlier launch of Grayscale’s Chainlink fund in December. The structure gives market participants access to the Chainlink ecosystem through regulated brokerage channels without directly holding the token itself.
Fee schedule, custody setup, and seed capital
Bitwise disclosed a management fee of 0.34%. That fee will be waived for the first three months on assets up to $500 million. Coinbase Custody Trust Company will serve as the digital asset custodian, while BNY Mellon will act as cash custodian.
The fund will track the CME CF Chainlink-Dollar Reference Rate (New York Variant). The filing also states that Bitwise Investment Manager LLC is expected to seed the ETF with $2.5 million, equal to 100,000 shares at $25 per share.
Staking is referenced, but not available at launch
The prospectus names Attestant Ltd as a preferred staking provider, but LINK staking will not be enabled at the start. No launch date for that feature was provided. The filing says the decision is still subject to operational review and market considerations.
LINK market data points to softer positioning
At the time cited in the report, LINK was trading near $13.19, down about 3% over 24 hours, while trading volume was lower by nearly 20%. Derivatives positioning also softened, with LINK futures open interest falling to roughly $632.8 million. The move reflected lower risk appetite as traders responded to broader macro factors, including recent U.S. jobs data.