• Grayscale’s GLNK becomes the first spot Chainlink ETF with staking, approved to list on NYSE Arca.
• The ETF marks Grayscale’s third crypto product launch in two weeks, following XRP and Dogecoin funds.
• Chainlink’s growing institutional use includes treasury adoption and cross-border trials using its CCIP protocol.

Grayscale has received regulatory approval to convert its Chainlink Trust into a spot exchange-traded fund. Confirmed by a post on X by Nate Gerace, the new ETF, named GLNK, will be listed on NYSE Arca and provide investors with direct exposure to LINK, the native token of the Chainlink network. 

This conversion follows Grayscale’s earlier submission of a registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September. The approval makes it the third crypto-based ETF Grayscale has introduced in the past two weeks, joining similar funds for XRP and Dogecoin.

Chainlink ETF Launch Adds Staking Option

The GLNK ETF differs from other recent crypto ETFs by including a staking component for investors. This feature enables holders to participate in Chainlink’s network while earning potential staking rewards. The addition of staking has prompted closer regulatory attention, as questions remain around how yield mechanisms function within digital asset funds. Analysts confirmed that the SEC continues to examine compliance concerns linked to staking in publicly traded crypto products.

Another Chainlink ETF, CLNK by Bitwise, had already entered the DTCC registry but does not include staking. Despite early expectations that Bitwise’s product would launch first, Grayscale has now taken the lead with its approved listing. Both funds offer regulated access to LINK, but the differing structures may influence investor preference depending on yield expectations.

LINK’s Role in Institutional Infrastructure

According to Grayscale researchers Zach Pandl and Michael Zhao, Chainlink plays a growing role in institutional blockchain applications. Their recent report categorized LINK as the leading asset within the Utilities and Services sector of crypto. The report also noted that LINK remains the largest crypto asset that is not a Layer 1 token, underlining its specialized role in on-chain finance.

Institutional usage of Chainlink has increased throughout the year. In August, CaliberCos became one of the first U.S. companies to publicly include LINK in its corporate treasury strategy. The firm also adopted staking as part of its long-term holdings. 

Meanwhile, in June, Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) enabled value transfers between Hong Kong and Australia during a central bank digital currency pilot. Additionally, World Liberty Financial recently integrated CCIP to expand the reach of USD1 across multiple blockchain networks. These developments indicate a steady increase in enterprise interest in Chainlink’s infrastructure solutions across financial sectors.