Bitwise has rolled out the first US spot exchange-traded fund tracking NEAR, the native token of the Near Protocol, offering investors regulated access to one of the year's strongest-performing crypto assets through their ordinary brokerage accounts.
A New Way to Access NEAR
The fund, trading under the ticker NRR, began changing hands on NYSE Arca on Tuesday. It represents the first spot Near ETF available to American investors, allowing them to gain exposure to the AI-focused token without directly holding or custodying the asset themselves.
Beyond simple price exposure, the product is designed to pass along staking rewards to shareholders. Near Protocol relies on a proof-of-stake system, meaning holders can earn yield by helping to secure the network — a feature Bitwise is folding into the ETF structure.
The launch hands everyday brokerage users a regulated on-ramp to one of crypto's hottest tokens.
A Token on the Rise
The timing coincides with a dramatic run-up in NEAR's value. The token has climbed sharply since August, nearly tripling in price as investor interest in artificial intelligence-linked blockchain projects has intensified.
Near Protocol has positioned itself as a platform focused on AI applications, a narrative that has resonated strongly with traders throughout the current market cycle. That momentum has helped fuel demand for regulated investment vehicles tied to the asset.
The debut of NRR reflects a broader trend among asset managers racing to bring single-asset crypto ETFs to market beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Key features of the new fund include:
- Spot exposure to NEAR through a traditional brokerage account
- Staking rewards passed through to shareholders
- Listing on NYSE Arca under the ticker NRR
As issuers expand their crypto offerings, products like Bitwise's Near ETF signal growing confidence that regulators and investors alike are ready to embrace a wider array of digital assets in familiar, exchange-traded formats.