Bitwise has launched the first US spot NEAR ETF, giving investors regulated exposure to the NEAR token through NYSE Arca.
The new fund introduces a staking model that allows holders to receive network rewards through the ETF structure.
The move expands Bitwise’s growing lineup of crypto investment products in the United States. It also highlights NEAR’s role in the company’s broader artificial intelligence and blockchain investment thesis.
Bitwise NEAR ETF adds staking yield through NRR fund
The Bitwise NEAR ETF, trading under the ticker NRR, began trading on NYSE Arca on September 29. Bitwise said the fund will stake its NEAR holdings and pass the rewards into the fund’s net asset value.
The company estimates the current staking reward rate at about 5%. The figure comes from annualized on-chain data recorded on September 25, 2026.
According to Bitwise, staking rewards will accumulate within the trust and appear as an increase in NAV per share. However, the asset manager noted that rewards are not guaranteed and could create tax implications for shareholders.
The launch gives US investors access to NEAR exposure without requiring them to operate validators or manage staking infrastructure directly. Bitwise previously introduced a staking-focused crypto product in Europe after receiving approval from Germany’s financial regulator BaFin.
NRR expands Bitwise’s single-asset crypto ETF portfolio, which already includes products linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Hyperliquid. The firm reported managing $9 billion in client assets as of June 30.
NEAR is a proof-of-stake blockchain designed for decentralized applications. The token ranks among the top 20 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies and currently trades near $4.96, with a market capitalization above $6.4 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Bitwise noted that NEAR has a fully unlocked supply. The network recently reduced its inflation rate to 2.5%, according to the company.
NEAR ETF builds on AI agent transaction thesis
Bitwise’s NEAR ETF launch also reflects the company’s long-term view of blockchain infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence applications.
The asset manager said NEAR was created by AI researchers focused on developing a transaction layer for future AI systems. Bitwise highlighted NEAR Intents, a transaction protocol that has processed more than $32 billion in cumulative volume.
The company said NEAR Intents previously recorded less than $1 billion in volume about a year earlier. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley said AI is changing how people access information and how economic activity operates.
Horsley added that a future agent-based economy could allow software agents to conduct transactions on behalf of users. NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin described the network as infrastructure for the AI and blockchain ecosystem.
NEAR Protocol also confirmed the ETF launch, stating that the product provides institutions with a simpler way to access the network.
Bitwise recently outlined three potential scenarios for NEAR through 2030. The company projected a bear case of $1.63, a base case of $155.80, and a bull case of $562.80.
The firm clarified that the $155.80 estimate is not a guaranteed forecast. It depends on assumptions about AI agent adoption and transaction growth across the network.
Bitwise’s model assumes 16.4 billion AI agents could operate globally by 2030. Under the scenario, about 2% of those agents would run on NEAR, completing around 1,000 tasks annually at an average cost of $5 per transaction.
