Grayscale has rolled out the Grayscale Chainlink Trust ETF (GLNK) on NYSE Arca, marking a major milestone for both the company and the broader crypto ETF landscape. The product transitioned from a private trust—originally launched in 2021—into a fully tradable spot ETF after an amended S-1 filing entered automatic approval during the recent SEC window.
GLNK holds Chainlink’s LINK token as its sole asset, giving traditional market participants a direct and regulated way to gain exposure to Chainlink’s expanding oracle ecosystem without needing to hold crypto directly.
A Grayscale spokesperson said that Chainlink was a natural fit, citing the firm’s long-term support for the project and LINK’s maturity within the digital asset infrastructure market.
A First-of-Its-Kind Oracle Infrastructure ETF
According to Grayscale, GLNK is the first ETF in the U.S. offering exposure specifically to blockchain oracle technology—a key layer enabling smart contracts to interact with real-world data.
The ETF’s prospectus emphasizes Chainlink’s role as a critical component in blockchain development, powering secure data feeds, off-chain computation, and interoperability across multiple ecosystems.
This launch gives institutions a straightforward way to invest in Chainlink’s infrastructure layer, which underpins use cases in DeFi, gaming, insurance, trading, and cross-chain messaging.
Following DOGE and XRP ETF Conversion Path
GLNK follows the same conversion model Grayscale used for its DOGE and XRP ETFs, both of which also began trading on NYSE Arca.
Like those products, GLNK uses a cash-only creation and redemption process, which can result in slightly wider bid–ask spreads during early trading as market makers adapt. However, this model aligns with SEC requirements and provides a compliant pathway for launching altcoin spot ETFs.
The firm added that the SEC’s revised listing standards—approved in September—made the launch possible by enabling a procedural path where the registration became effective after 20 days during the government shutdown.
Strong Trading Debut Shows Investor Demand
GLNK saw impressive early trading activity, signaling strong demand from retail and institutional participants. Highlights from the first day:
- •1.17 million shares traded — far above its prior 42,000-share OTC average
- •Closed at $11.89, up 5.8% on the day
- •After-hours trading brought it to ~$12
Grayscale reported broad investor enthusiasm and healthy secondary market activity, reflecting increased interest in gaining exposure to Chainlink’s infrastructure via a regulated investment vehicle.