Bitwise Launches First U.S. Spot NEAR ETF with Staking Rewards

Bitwise has launched the first U.S. spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) tied to NEAR Protocol's native token, according to reporting from multiple sources. This new fund comes with staking rewards and a long-term price projection for NEAR reaching out to 2030.

The launch marks a significant entry point for regulated exposure to the layer-1 blockchain that has focused heavily on artificial intelligence infrastructure and scalable smart contracts.

Unlike many existing crypto ETF structures, Bitwise's NEAR product incorporates staking rewards directly into the fund. This design lets investors gain exposure to NEAR's price movements while also capturing yield generated through the network's proof-of-stake validation process.