Bitwise Files for a NEAR ETF, Expanding Crypto Investment Options
In a recent announcement that has sparked interest in the cryptocurrency market, James Seyffart, a well-known ETF analyst, reported that Bitwise Investment Advisers has filed for a NEAR Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).
The filing, as indicated by the attached S-1 form submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 6, 2025, marks a significant step towards offering investors more accessible ways to gain exposure to the NEAR Protocol ecosystem.
The S-1 form reveals the name of the proposed fund as the “Bitwise NEAR ETF.” While details regarding the ETF’s structure, fees, and ticker symbol are yet to be disclosed in full, the filing itself signals Bitwise’s intent to bring a regulated investment vehicle focused on NEAR to the market.
NEAR Protocol is a layer-1 blockchain designed for usability and scalability. It aims to provide a developer-friendly platform for building decentralized applications (dApps) and offers features like sharding (Nightshade) to enhance transaction throughput. The potential launch of a NEAR ETF could attract both institutional and retail investors who are interested in the growth potential of the NEAR ecosystem but prefer the familiarity and regulatory oversight of traditional investment products.
This move by Bitwise follows a trend of increasing institutional interest in a wider range of cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The successful launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year has seemingly paved the way for consideration of other digital assets.
The SEC will now review Bitwise’s S-1 filing. The timeline for approval is uncertain and will depend on the SEC’s assessment of the proposal and the evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets. However, the filing itself represents a notable development for the NEAR Protocol and the broader cryptocurrency investment space, potentially opening up new avenues for investment and adoption.
As the application progresses, further details about the Bitwise NEAR ETF are expected to emerge, which will provide greater clarity for investors interested in this potential new investment product.
Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work at Coindoo has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.
