TL;DR:
- Bitwise Chainlink ETF listed on DTCC, moving toward institutional access.
- Retail holders continue selling LINK despite positive fundamentals.
- Whales accumulate 4M+ LINK, exchange balances drop to multi-year lows, signaling potential price recovery.
The Bitwise Chainlink ETF (CLNK) listing on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) platform represents a major step toward institutional access for LINK. While the move does not equate to regulatory approval, it signals preparation for eventual trading readiness. The integration with Chainlinkās CCIP and CRE demonstrates growing institutional confidence in LINKās interoperability solutions.
Bitwise Chainlink ETF is now listed on the DTCC platform$LINK ETF IS IMMINENT šØ pic.twitter.com/TDXIvFEv0P
— Quinten | 048.eth (@QuintenFrancois) November 12, 2025
Whales Accumulate as Exchange Balances Reach Record Lows
Despite this positive progress, retail investors continue selling LINK tokens, reflecting cautious sentiment. On-chain data shows persistent retail selling throughout the past month, suggesting that many investors remain skeptical even as fundamental developments favor the token. Analyst ClairHawk Capital notes that such selling patterns often occur during accumulation phases, typically preceding sideways or bearish price movements.
In contrast to retail behavior, whales have steadily accumulated over 4 million LINK tokens over the past two weeks. This accumulation has pushed the Exchange Supply Ratio to multi-year lows, highlighting the shift toward long-term holding. Arca Research notes that LINK balances on exchanges have dropped to the lowest levels in over two years, indicating that major holders are positioning for future price appreciation.
Additionally, market sentiment could shift as institutional visibility increases. Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov recently participated in the Federal Reserve Fintech Conference alongside executives from JP Morgan and Amazon, signaling strong adoption interest among key financial players. Such exposure reinforces LINKās credibility and may influence broader investor confidence.
Overall, the LINK market reflects a divergence between retail caution and institutional optimism. While retail holders continue to offload tokens, the combination of whale accumulation, ETF preparation, and rising institutional participation suggests that LINK could enter a period of renewed price discovery. Current trading shows LINK at $15.93, up 3% in the past 24 hours, illustrating potential upward momentum amid evolving market dynamics.
