Bitwise Files to Launch First NEAR ETF in the U.S.

Bitwise Asset Management has registered a new entity called Bitwise NEAR ETF in Delaware, marking its first step toward launching a NEAR Protocol-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States.

The registration was filed on April 24, 2025, according to the Delaware Division of Corporations under file number 10174379. This move signals Bitwise’s plan to offer a spot ETF that would track the price of NEAR, the native token of the NEAR Protocol blockchain. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley confirmed the filing in a statement to The Block.

NEAR is presently trading for $2.60, with 3.36% gained in the last 24 hours. According to CoinMarketcap, It is the  34th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, with a market capitalization of about $3.14 billion.

NEARUSD Price Chart | Source: CoinMarketCap

NEAR brands itself as a “blockchain for AI,” providing development tools that facilitate artificial intelligence work. If Bitwise gets the green light, this would be the very first NEAR-based ETF in the United States.

Bitwise had already created Delaware trusts for the other crypto ETFs, like Dogecoin and Aptos, and then filed with the SEC.

Similar to those efforts, the Bitwise NEAR ETF registration is expected to be a precursor to a formal S-1 application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, these filings come as the SEC continues to review dozens of crypto-related ETF proposals.

Since January, the agency has dropped several legal actions against crypto firms and held public roundtables to explore industry-friendly policies.

Bitwise’s existing spot Bitcoin ETF (BITB), launched in January 2024, has grown to $3.6 billion in assets under management. The firm now manages over $5 billion in total assets and offers a range of crypto investment products.