Grayscale Launches First U.S. Spot Chainlink ETF on NYSE Arca

Grayscale has expanded the U.S. crypto ETF landscape with the official launch of the Grayscale Chainlink Trust ETF (ticker: GLNK), now trading on NYSE Arca. The listing marks the first spot-based exchange-traded product offering direct exposure to Chainlink (LINK) to reach U.S. markets — broadening access beyond assets traditionally focused on payments or store-of-value narratives.

The ETF was created through the conversion of Grayscale’s private Chainlink Trust, which has operated since 2021. A recently filed amended S-1 registration statement finalized the fund’s transition into a publicly traded structure, with LINK as its sole underlying asset.

Why Grayscale Chose Chainlink

Commenting on the listing, a Grayscale representative told Decrypt that Chainlink was a natural fit for ETF packaging, citing the firm’s long-standing support of the Chainlink ecosystem and the trust’s multi-year operational history. With GLNK, Grayscale becomes the first asset manager to offer ETF exposure specifically to blockchain oracle infrastructure — a category distinct from mainstream crypto investment vehicles.

The spokesperson noted that the ETF offers investors a more direct way to engage with “this critical layer of blockchain infrastructure,” which plays a foundational role across decentralized finance and emerging tokenized-asset markets.

What Chainlink Provides to Web3

According to the ETF prospectus, Chainlink operates a decentralized oracle network designed to connect smart contracts on any blockchain to real-world data, events, and off-chain computation. In practical terms, Chainlink acts as a secure bridge between blockchain systems and external information sources — a function essential for use cases such as asset tokenization, financial derivatives, automated insurance payouts, gaming platforms, and cross-chain interoperability.

This infrastructure focus sets GLNK apart from many existing crypto ETFs, which primarily offer exposure to transaction-based tokens rather than the technology rails supporting broader decentralized applications.

Regulatory Path and ETF Conversion

GLNK followed the same trust-to-ETF conversion route Grayscale recently used for its newly listed DOGE and XRP ETFs, both of which debuted on NYSE Arca late last month. The pathway was enabled by the SEC’s updated ETF listing standards approved in September, which streamlined regulatory procedures for fund conversions.

Grayscale said the regulatory framework remained operational even during the federal government shutdown, allowing the company to proceed with filings under an outlined compliance pathway. This process kicked off a 20-day statutory review window, at the conclusion of which GLNK became automatically effective.

Early Trading Performance

Despite being structured under a cash-only creation and redemption model — which requires authorized participants to handle purchases and sales directly and may lead to wider bid-ask spreads — trading interest was strong on launch day.

GLNK closed at $11.89, up 5.8%, with after-hours activity lifting the price toward $12, according to Yahoo Finance. Total volume reached 1.17 million shares, far exceeding the trust’s prior average volume of roughly 42,000 shares while trading over the counter. The surge highlights elevated market engagement as the ETF transitioned into full exchange trading and entered active price discovery.

Grayscale said secondary market activity has reflected “enthusiasm from a range of investors,” spanning institutions and crypto-focused retail participants seeking targeted exposure to infrastructure projects rather than solely transactional tokens.

Expanding the Scope of Crypto ETFs

The listing of GLNK reflects a gradual diversification of the U.S. crypto ETF market beyond simple price-tracking instruments and toward products tied to the underlying technology stack supporting decentralized ecosystems. By offering exposure to oracle infrastructure, Grayscale is positioning ETFs as gateways not only to digital assets, but also to the operational layers powering real-world blockchain adoption — from financial services automation to real-asset tokenization.

As regulatory frameworks continue to mature and investor appetite broadens, infrastructure-based ETFs may carve out a growing segment alongside traditional spot bitcoin and altcoin products.