Bitwise Launches Chainlink ETF on NYSE Arca, Challenging Grayscale
Bitwise debuts its Chainlink ETF (CLNK) on NYSE Arca with a 0% fee promotion, creating direct competition with Grayscale's GLNK product.
Bitwise Asset Management has launched the Bitwise Chainlink ETF (CLNK) on NYSE Arca, becoming the second U.S. fund to offer direct LINK exposure and intensifying competition in the altcoin ETF space.
What Happened
Bitwise Asset Management, with over $15 billion in client assets, launched the Bitwise Chainlink ETF on NYSE Arca on January 14, 2026. Trading under the ticker CLNK, the fund provides investors with direct spot exposure to Chainlink (LINK) tokens.
The ETF was seeded with $2.5 million, representing 100,000 shares priced at $25 each. Bitwise is offering a 0% management fee for the first three months on the first $500 million in assets, after which the standard fee of 0.34% applies. This pricing undercuts Grayscale's competing GLNK product, which charges 0.35%.
Why It Matters
CLNK marks the second U.S. ETF offering direct ownership of Chainlink tokens, following Grayscale's GLNK launch in December 2025. Grayscale has accumulated $87.5 million in assets since debut, demonstrating institutional appetite for oracle network exposure.
Chainlink has emerged as critical infrastructure for the tokenization sector, having facilitated over $27 trillion in transaction value across 70 blockchains since 2017. The network's partnerships with JPMorgan, Mastercard, and Swift position it at the center of the real-world asset (RWA) movement that Wall Street is increasingly embracing.
What to Watch
The competitive fee structure could drive significant inflows to CLNK during the promotional period. LINK hit a monthly high following the launch announcement, with trading volume surging. Monitor institutional allocation patterns as banks expand tokenization pilots throughout Q1 2026.
Key Takeaways
This is a developing story. The altcoin ETF market continues expanding rapidly under the current regulatory environment, with multiple issuers competing for institutional capital.
