Home » Regulation » Bitwise registers first NEAR ETF in US as institutional hobby in altcoins grows
Apr. 25, 2025
Bitwise’s initiative would give a seize to institutional publicity to NEAR, reflecting traits in digital asset fund choices.

Picture: AI/ Crypto Briefing
Key Takeaways
- Bitwise registered a NEAR ETF, marking the first step toward launching the first NEAR ETF within the US.
- A US NEAR ETF would supply institutional access to the NEAR token, aligning with broader alternate traits.
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American fund supervisor Bitwise Asset Administration has registered a have confidence entity named Bitwise NEAR ETF in Delaware — a skedaddle that on the overall precedes a formal submitting with the SEC for but another-traded product that would possibly possibly presumably maybe discover NEAR, the native asset of the NEAR Protocol.
If winning, Bitwise’s proposed fund would possibly possibly be the first US-basically based ETF tied to the layer 1 blockchain centered on scalability and developer accessibility.

Ahead of Bitwise’s skedaddle, assorted asset managers resembling 21Shares and Grayscale had already launched NEAR-connected funding merchandise. 21Shares gives the 21Shares NEAR Protocol Staking ETP, providing publicity to NEAR tokens alongside with staking rewards.
In the period in-between, Grayscale operates the Grayscale NEAR Belief, a non-public placement vehicle that gives permitted traders access to NEAR, even if it’s now not structured as an ETF.
A US-listed NEAR ETF would magnify institutional access to the token as it gives a regulated, alternate-traded vehicle. The ETF structure enables establishments to produce publicity to NEAR with out the complexities of managing non-public keys, custody preparations, or wallet infrastructure.
Plus, by monitoring the tell mark of the underlying asset and disclosing holdings daily, the ETF gives valid-time mark transparency and a closer alignment with market mark—aspects excessive for portfolio administration and compliance.
Bitwise, a pioneer in crypto asset funding merchandise, had over $5 billion in resources below administration as of October 2024, marking a 400% create bigger in that one year, the firm said in an announcement.
The corporate manages a wide differ of funding merchandise, including crypto index funds, thematic equity ETFs, tell crypto ETPs, multi-strategy alpha alternatives, individually managed accounts, and non-public funds.
Bitwise’s tell Bitcoin ETF (BITB), which launched in January 2024, has grown to $3.6 billion in resources below administration, basically based on basically the most standard knowledge. Despite being on the market for fair over a one year, BITB ranks among the many tip-performing Bitcoin funds, with valid dispute and solid investor ask.
As well to NEAR, Bitwise is aiming for ETFs connected to assorted main crypto resources, resembling XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana, to title about a.
The new registration is portion of Bitwise’s ongoing effort to magnify its digital asset choices previous Bitcoin and Ethereum, as institutional appetite for altcoin publicity good points momentum.
Bitwise, as well to assorted fund managers, await that a crypto-pleasant ambiance within the Trump period will attend urge the approval and adoption of crypto funding merchandise.
Earlier this week, Trump Media and Crypto.com finalized a deal to beginning The US-first ETFs, including ones tied to Cronos. The parties said they aimed to rob pleasure in educated-crypto insurance policies below the Trump administration.
Whether the increasing lineup of proposed crypto funds will within the ruin reach the market relies on the securities regulator. Newly sworn-in SEC Chair Paul Atkins, alongside with assorted Commissioners, is anticipated to study and rule on diverse pending ETF applications within the impending months.
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