Chainlink is seeing renewed momentum after a major step toward mainstream market access, as a new ETF linked directly to LINK prepares to enter U.S. exchanges and price action accelerates in response.
Bitwise has received approval to list a spot Chainlink ETF on NYSE Arca under the ticker CLNK, with trading expected to begin this week. The development places Chainlink among a small but growing group of altcoins gaining dedicated exchange-traded products, extending ETF exposure beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Key Takeaways
Chainlink is set to gain a spot ETF listing on NYSE Arca under the ticker CLNK, expanding regulated access to LINK.
LINK has rallied more than 11% over the past week and is trading around $14 as ETF anticipation builds.
Technical indicators remain bullish, with RSI near overbought levels and MACD confirming upward momentum.
LINK price reacts ahead of ETF launch
Market activity has already picked up. LINK is trading around $14.00, up more than 11% over the past seven days, as buyers returned ahead of the ETF debut. The token has been climbing steadily since late December, recovering from the $12.00-$12.30 zone and breaking above short-term resistance near $13.50.
On the four-hour chart, momentum remains firmly bullish. The 14-period RSI is hovering in the low-to-mid 70s, signaling strong buying pressure and approaching overbought territory. This suggests upside momentum is intact, though short-term consolidation or pullbacks would not be unusual after the recent run.
MACD has also flipped decisively positive, with the signal and histogram expanding above the zero line, confirming that bullish momentum has strengthened into early January.
From a technical perspective, immediate resistance now sits near the $14.20-$14.50 range, where LINK previously stalled in December. A clean break above that zone could open the door toward the mid-$15 area. On the downside, former resistance around $13.30-$13.50 is now acting as first support.
ETF structure and launch details
The ETF itself is designed to track the spot price of Chainlink, offering investors direct LINK exposure through a regulated exchange product. Bitwise confirmed the listing after filing Form 8-A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 5, clearing the final procedural step before trading begins.
To support early inflows, Bitwise extended its full management fee waiver on the first $500 million in assets under management from one month to three months. After the waiver period, the ETF will carry a 0.34% management fee.
The fund will launch with a $2.5 million seed investment from Bitwise Investment Manager LLC, equivalent to 100,000 shares priced at $25 each.
Staking remains a future option
While the ETF’s primary goal is spot price exposure, Bitwise included staking as a secondary objective. No staking program has been activated yet, and no timeline has been disclosed. If staking is enabled in the future, Bitwise identified Attestant Ltd as its preferred staking partner.
For now, the product will function strictly as a price-tracking vehicle, aligning with the structure used by most newly launched spot crypto ETFs.
On the custody side, Coinbase Custody will hold the ETF’s LINK reserves, while BNY Mellon will act as cash custodian. The setup mirrors the framework used by other spot crypto ETFs, blending traditional financial infrastructure with digital asset exposure.
A broader signal for altcoins
The launch of a dedicated Chainlink ETF represents a meaningful test for altcoin-focused exchange-traded products. If CLNK attracts sustained inflows, it could strengthen the case for additional single-asset ETFs tied to large-cap crypto projects with established utility.
For LINK, the near-term focus remains on whether bullish momentum can push prices decisively above the $14.50 resistance zone. With ETF trading set to begin and technical indicators still supportive, Chainlink is entering the week with both structural and market-driven tailwinds in place.
