Bitwise Files for First U.S. Spot Chainlink ETF - Major Milestone for Crypto Adoption

Wall Street meets Web3 as Bitwise drops the paperwork for America's first spot Chainlink ETF.

The Oracle Play

Bitwise just fired the starting gun on institutional access to decentralized oracles. Their filing positions Chainlink as critical infrastructure—not just another altcoin. The move signals that real-world data connectivity matters as much as pure cryptocurrency exposure.

Why This Breaks New Ground

Traditional finance finally acknowledges that smart contracts need reliable feeds. Chainlink's network supplies market data, weather info, sports outcomes—you name it—to blockchain applications. This ETF would let investors tap that utility without navigating crypto exchanges or self-custody.

The Bigger Picture

Another day, another ETF filing—because why build innovative products when you can repackage existing tech and charge management fees? Still, it beats another meme coin launch.

Get ready: the race to tokenize everything just hit overdrive.

How the ETF Would Function

The proposed ETF WOULD track the daily price of LINK based on a Chainlink-to-dollar benchmark. The underlying tokens would be stored with Coinbase Custody Trust Company, and the ETF shares would be traded on a national exchange. The fund is designed to be passively managed, so there won’t be any active trading strategy behind it. The job of the ETF is simply to mirror LINK’s market performance as closely as possible.

LINK Gets a Boost After the Filing

News of the filing didn’t go unnoticed. LINK’s price jumped about five to six percent within hours of the announcement. It bounced back from the $22 range to land somewhere in the mid-$20s. On-chain activity also picked up, with a few large holders making notable moves around the same time. Whether it was excitement over the filing or just well-timed trades, the momentum was clear.

Why Chainlink Deserves This Attention

Chainlink plays an important role in blockchain infrastructure by providing decentralized oracle services. These oracles are used to feed real-world data into smart contracts, making everything from DeFi to insurance to cross-chain bridges actually work. Chainlink has also formed partnerships outside the crypto space, which gives it credibility and reach beyond typical Web3 circles.

Institutional Access Expands Beyond BTC and ETH

Spot ETFs for Bitcoin and ethereum have already opened the door for institutional money to enter crypto through familiar channels. Bitwise’s Chainlink filing shows that interest is now expanding to more specialized assets with clear utility. If approved, a Chainlink ETF would allow both institutions and individual investors to access LINK exposure through a structure they already understand and trust.

What Comes Next

Now that Bitwise has filed its S-1 form, the next step will likely involve a 19b-4 filing and exchange approval. These filings typically move through a review process that can stretch for months. If the ETF gets the green light, it would mark the first time investors in the U.S. could trade a fund tied specifically to Chainlink. With regulatory momentum building and more ETFs being proposed across the crypto space, this filing could land at just the right time.

Key Takeaways

• Bitwise has filed for the first U.S.-listed Chainlink ETF, aiming to give investors direct exposure to LINK without dealing with crypto wallets.
• The ETF would track the LINK-to-USD price and store assets with Coinbase Custody, using a passive structure to mirror Chainlink’s market performance.
• LINK’s price jumped 5–6% after the filing news, with increased on-chain activity suggesting strong investor interest.
• Chainlink is seen as a critical piece of blockchain infrastructure, powering oracles used across DeFi, insurance, and cross-chain apps.
• This filing reflects growing demand for crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, offering regulated access to utility-driven tokens like LINK.