Bitwise Chainlink ETF Nears Launch

Bitwise's spot Chainlink exchange-traded fund (ETF) has appeared on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation's (DTCC) registry, a typically positive sign that the fund is moving closer to its launch. The Bitwise Chainlink ETF was added to the DTCC’s “active” and “pre-launch” categories on Tuesday under the ticker CLNK.

While the listings don't guarantee approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), historically it's been a strong indicator that a product is likely to be greenlit. The DTCC functions as a post-trade market infrastructure platform, clearing, settling, and recording transactions. It serves as a central hub for markets, ensuring trades in assets like stocks and ETFs are processed efficiently and securely.

Bitwise is yet to file a Form 8-A for its Chainlink product, which is among the final documents required before securities can be offered on an exchange. This filing typically signals that a product’s launch is imminent. Bitwise filed a Form S-1 statement for the ETF in August to register the product with the SEC. The ETF aims to track the price of Chainlink (LINK), the token powering Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network, which provides real-time data to on-chain smart contracts.

Grayscale is another crypto asset manager with a spot Chainlink ETF in development. However, they may encounter more regulatory hurdles than Bitwise, as they intend to incorporate staking.

Government Shutdown Impact on ETF Approval Process

Dozens of spot crypto ETFs are currently awaiting SEC approval amidst the U.S. government shutdown, which lasted 42 days. The shutdown is expected to conclude this week after the Senate passed a funding bill.

Crypto asset managers have filed ETFs to track increasingly speculative altcoins, hoping to attract investor interest. Examples include Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Aptos (APT), Avalanche (AVAX), and Hedera (HBAR).

New SEC Listing Standards Could Accelerate Approvals

Industry analysts are now anticipating more spot crypto ETF approvals. The SEC has established new generic listing standards that allow for the approval of crypto investment products without individual case-by-case reviews.

These new SEC listing standards were released on Sept. 17, less than two weeks before the government shutdown. This left limited time for the new rules to be implemented. Since then, the shutdown has forced the SEC to operate with reduced capacity and funding.


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