Bitwise, a leading crypto asset manager, has taken an early step toward launching a NEAR Protocol-based exchange-traded fund (ETF).
On Thursday, the firm filed for the registration of the “Bitwise NEAR ETF” through a Delaware statutory trust, according to official state records.
While this move does not yet represent a formal application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it establishes the groundwork for potential ETF approval. Bitwise CEO and co-founder Hunter Horsley confirmed the filing, which marks the company’s latest attempt to broaden its digital asset ETF portfolio.
NEAR, the native token of the NEAR Protocol, is currently trading just above $2.60 and ranks as the 43rd largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, based on The Block’s data.
Bitwise has recently filed similar Delaware trust registrations for other crypto assets, including Dogecoin, Aptos, and XRP. Some of those products, such as the Bitwise Dogecoin ETF, have already advanced to formal SEC registration phases.
The latest NEAR filing underscores Bitwise’s strategy to bridge digital assets with traditional financial markets by proactively creating structures that can support regulated investment products.
As investor demand grows for crypto ETFs, Bitwise continues to solidify its position as a frontrunner in the evolving digital finance space.
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