Key Takeaways:

Bitwise’s spot Chainlink ETF has appeared on the DTCC registry under ticker CLNK, signaling it may be nearing launch.

The ETF, listed under the ticker CLNK, was added on Tuesday to the DTCC’s “active” and “pre-launch” categories.

While the move doesn’t guarantee approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it has historically indicated that a product is close to being cleared for trading.

DTCC: Wall Street’s Backbone for Clearing and Settlement

The DTCC serves as one of Wall Street’s core post-trade infrastructure platforms, handling the clearing, settlement, and recording of financial transactions to ensure efficient and secure processing for assets, including stocks and ETFs.

Bitwise, one of the largest crypto asset managers in the US, has yet to file its Form 8-A, a key requirement before an ETF can officially list on an exchange.

The firm initially filed its Form S-1 in August, outlining its plan for an ETF designed to track Chainlink (LINK), the native token powering Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network, which delivers real-world data to smart contracts on-chain.

Grayscale is also pursuing a spot Chainlink ETF, though analysts say it could face tougher scrutiny as it aims to incorporate staking, an area still viewed cautiously by US regulators.

The listing comes amid a broader wave of spot crypto ETF applications, many of which have been delayed due to the ongoing US government shutdown, now in its 42nd day.

The SEC has been operating at reduced capacity during the shutdown, though lawmakers are expected to approve a funding deal to restore full operations soon.

Industry watchers believe a resolution could accelerate ETF approvals, particularly under the SEC’s new generic listing standards introduced in mid-September.

These rules allow certain crypto investment products to be approved without requiring case-by-case reviews, potentially streamlining future listings for altcoin-focused ETFs such as Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Hedera (HBAR).

If cleared, Bitwise’s Chainlink ETF would become one of the first US spot ETFs offering exposure to a decentralized oracle network, marking another step in the growing institutionalization of altcoin investments.