Bitwise has officially filed Form S-1 with the SEC on May 6 to launch a Bitwise NEAR ETF, signaling a new chapter in crypto’s expansion into traditional finance.
This move would give U.S. investors regulated access to NEAR Protocol — a fast, scalable Layer 1 blockchain known for its sharding technology and growing presence in DeFi and AI-native ecosystems.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum have already secured their place in the ETF spotlight, Bitwise is aiming to expand the playing field. NEAR’s consistent development and ecosystem growth suggest it may be ready for institutional recognition.
The application was filed by Bitwise Investment Advisers LLC, with legal counsel from Chapman and Cutler LLP. No ticker, fees, or official launch dates were revealed yet. But the trend is clear — alternative Layer 1 assets are making their way to Wall Street.
As regulatory frameworks evolve and demand intensifies, NEAR’s entry into the ETF race may not just be a milestone — it could be a market-shaping moment.
So #AMAGE community: is NEAR about to become the poster child for altcoin ETFs, or is the real SEC test still to come?