Global index provider FTSE Russell has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Chainlink (LINK) to deliver its major stock and digital asset indexes directly on blockchain networks, marking the first time globally that institutional-grade financial benchmarks will be distributed on-chain.
FTSE Russell Partners with Chainlink to Publish Market Indexes Onchain
Global index provider FTSE Russell is teaming up with @chainlink to place key benchmarks — including the Russell 1000, 2000, 3000 and FTSE 100 — directly onchain via DataLink, an institutional-grade… pic.twitter.com/GtZ2IHfqq3
— ME (@MetaEraHK) November 4, 2025
This collaboration will make FTSE Russell’s market data accessible within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, bridging traditional and blockchain-based finance.
A World-First On-Chain Index Distribution
According to Chainlink’s official announcement, the partnership will leverage its DataLink service, a turnkey platform that enables institutions to securely publish and access financial data on blockchain networks.
Through DataLink, FTSE Russell’s extensive index suite, including the Russell 1000, Russell 2000, Russell 3000, FTSE 100, WMR Foreign Exchange benchmarks, and FTSE Digital Asset Indexes, will be made available on-chain.
FTSE Russell stated that the integration “delivers a true global view of markets, combining deep local benchmark expertise with worldwide data coverage.”
The indices collectively support over USD 18.1 trillion in assets under management (AUM), underscoring the significance of FTSE Russell’s first-ever step into blockchain-powered data distribution.
Meeting Demand for Tokenized Asset Benchmarks
The initiative aims to meet the growing institutional demand for tamper-proof, real-time benchmarks to support the expanding tokenized asset market.
FTSE Russell CEO Fiona Bassett called the move “a major step toward innovation in tokenized assets and next-generation financial products,” adding that DataLink will allow “trusted benchmark data to be securely distributed across global on-chain markets.”
Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov hailed the collaboration as “a milestone for the industry,” explaining that DataLink allows benchmark providers to offer institutional-grade financial data directly to blockchain markets.
Chainlink has already secured over USD 100 billion in DeFi assets and facilitated transactions exceeding USD 25 trillion, lending credibility to its role in this partnership.
Bridging Traditional Finance and DeFi
This collaboration aligns with FTSE Russell’s broader strategy to expand into emerging digital asset classes. The company has been developing robust data governance and infrastructure frameworks to meet institutional demand for regulated digital benchmarks.
The move also helps bridge regulatory compliance requirements with the 24/7 accessibility of blockchain-based markets, an increasingly important feature as traditional institutions accelerate entry into the digital asset space following the approval of U.S. Bitcoin ETFs.
FTSE Russell’s Gerald Toledano previously emphasized the firm’s commitment to “setting new standards for consistent, rules-based benchmarking in an evolving financial ecosystem.”
Analysts describe this partnership as a “fusion of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi)”, noting it could redefine how institutional-grade data is accessed and used across global markets.
Developers will now be able to build compliant DeFi applications and tokenized financial products powered by FTSE Russell’s trusted benchmarks, potentially transforming how decentralized exchanges (DEXs) price on-chain financial instruments in the near future.
