With global agentic commerce projected to reach $5 trillion by 2030,* NEAR is accelerating the emergence of an AI-powered economy.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bitwise Asset Management, the global crypto asset manager with $9 billion in client assets (as of June 30, 2026), today announced the launch of the Bitwise NEAR ETF (NYSE: NRR). The fund is designed to provide investors with spot exposure to NEAR, a leading blockchain infrastructure powering the emerging AI economy. Bitwise intends to stake the Fund’s NEAR tokens in-house, aiming to maximize participation in NEAR’s average staking rewards of ~5%.1
NRR is not suitable for all investors. An investment in NRR is subject to a high degree of risk, has the potential for significant volatility, and could result in significant or complete loss of investment. NRR is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and is not subject to the same protections as Mutual Funds or ETFs registered under the “1940 Act”. An investment in NRR is not the same as a direct investment in NEAR. Please see additional risks and important information below.
“NEAR sits at the intersection of two of the biggest trends in technology: AI and crypto,” said Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise. “As AI agents start transacting on our behalf—booking, paying, swapping, and more—the world is going to need settlement infrastructure that’s fast, trustworthy, and doesn’t depend on a single custodian. NEAR’s flagship product, NEAR Intents, is already showing what that looks like in practice, and we think NRR gives investors a straightforward way to get exposure to that build-out before it goes mainstream.”
Among NEAR’s most notable characteristics:
- It’s built at the intersection of AI and crypto by foundational AI researchers. The team helped shape modern AI; now they’re building the transaction layer for AI agents.
- It’s growing quickly: NEAR Intents, its transaction protocol, has processed $32B+ in volume, up from under $1B just a year ago.
- It’s designed for security: NEAR Intents settle cross-chain transactions through smart contracts, avoiding inherent risks of centralized bridges—with quantum-resistant signatures and privacy options built into its products.
- It’s made for scale: The NEAR Protocol has operated for six years with 100% uptime, while transactions finalize in ~1.2 seconds and cost a fraction of a cent.
- It’s economically robust: With over $6B in market cap, NEAR’s entire supply is unlocked, inflation was recently halved to 2.5%, and core products generate revenue that funds NEAR buybacks.
“NEAR is the vertically integrated stack for the AI + blockchain future: AI is the front end, blockchain is the back end,” said Illia Polosukhin, Co-founder of NEAR Protocol. “Private and verifiable AI, blockchain-based security, and universal liquidity via Intents are working together to power the agent economy. The Bitwise NEAR ETF offers a broader base of U.S. investors the opportunity to invest in this vision.”
“AI is fundamentally changing how we access information and how economic activity happens,” said Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise. “We’re moving toward a world in which AI agents increasingly act on our behalf, coordinate with one another, and participate in the economy. We believe this shift—to an agentic economy where more and more happens through AI agents—could unlock an enormous new frontier for the global economy. NEAR is building a platform for that future.”
The launch of NRR expands Bitwise’s NEAR franchise from Europe—where its BaFin-approved staking ETP already trades—into the U.S. It joins a growing lineup of single-asset crypto ETPs from Bitwise, including the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), Bitwise Solana ETF (BSOL), Bitwise XRP ETF (XRP), and Bitwise Hyperliquid ETF (BHYP).
To learn more about NRR, please visit nrretf.com/welcome
Fund details. The Bitwise NEAR ETF will trade on NYSE Arca starting on September 29, 2026, with the ticker NRR. The management fee will be 0.75%. The Fund offers investors exposure not only to NEAR’s potential price appreciation but also to staking rewards. In blockchain networks like NEAR, staking refers to the process of helping to secure the network and validate transactions; in return, participants earn rewards. Bitwise intends to stake the Fund’s NEAR in-house through Bitwise’s institutional staking team, aiming to maximize investors’ participation in staking rewards.
About Bitwise
Bitwise Asset Management is a global crypto asset manager with more than $9 billion in client assets and a suite of over 70 crypto investment products spanning ETFs, separately managed accounts, private funds, DeFi vaults, and staking. The firm has a nine-year track record and today serves more than 5,500 private wealth teams, RIAs, family offices, and institutional investors, as well as 21 banks and broker-dealers. The Bitwise team of technology and investment professionals is backed by leading institutional investors and has offices in San Francisco, New York, and London.
Notes
* Source: McKinsey, “The automation curve in agentic commerce,” January 28, 2026.
(1) NEAR staking reward rate of 5.3% is based on the annualized current rate as of September 25, 2026, with data from official NEAR Protocol onchain metrics. Staking Reward Rate does not represent performance of the Trust and is not indicative of any Trust performance. Staking rewards are earned by the Trust and accrue to shareholders as an increase in the Trust’s Net Asset Value (NAV) per share. Rewards are not guaranteed and are subject to change. The tax treatment of rewards earned by the Trust may have potentially adverse consequences for shareholders. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Risks and Important Information
This material must be accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. To obtain a current prospectus visit: for NRR, nrretf.com/welcome; for BITB, bitbetf.com/welcome; for ETHW, ethwetf.com/welcome; for BSOL, bsoletf.com/welcome; for XRP, bitxrpetf.com/welcome; for BHYP, bhypetf.com/welcome.
Shares of ETPs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. The NAV may not always correspond to the market price of NEAR and, as a result, Creation Units may be created or redeemed at a value that is different from the market price of the Shares. Authorized Participants’ buying and selling activity associated with the creation and redemption of Creation Units may adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
The amount of NEAR represented by a Share will continue to be reduced during the life of the Fund due to the transfer of the Fund’s NEAR to pay for the Sponsor’s management fee, and to pay for litigation expenses or other extraordinary expenses. This dynamic will occur irrespective of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of NEAR.
There is no guarantee or assurance that the Fund’s methodology will result in the Fund achieving positive investment returns or outperforming other investment products. Investors may choose to use the Fund as a means of investing indirectly in NEAR. Because the value of the Shares is correlated with the value of the NEAR held by the Fund, it is important to understand the investment attributes of, and the market for, NEAR.
NEAR Risk. There are significant risks and hazards inherent in the NEAR market that may cause the price of NEAR to fluctuate widely. The Fund’s NEAR may be subject to loss, damage, theft or restriction on access. Investors considering a purchase of Shares should carefully consider how much of their total assets should be exposed to the NEAR market, and should fully understand, be willing to assume, and have the financial resources necessary to withstand the risks involved in the Fund’s investment strategy.
Liquidity Risk. The market for NEAR is still developing and may be subject to periods of illiquidity. During such times it may be difficult or impossible to buy or sell a position at the desired price. Possible illiquid markets may exacerbate losses or increase the variability between the Fund’s NAV and its market price. The lack of active trading markets for the Shares may result in losses on investors’ investments at the time of disposition of Shares.
Regulatory Risk. Future and current regulations by a U.S. or foreign government or quasi-governmental agency could have an adverse effect on an investment in the Fund.
Blockchain Technology Risk. Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to the risks associated with investing in blockchain technology. The risks associated with blockchain technology may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. Blockchain systems could be vulnerable to fraud, particularly if a significant minority of participants colluded to defraud the rest. Because blockchain technology systems may operate across many national boundaries and regulatory jurisdictions, it is possible that blockchain technology may be subject to widespread and inconsistent regulation.
Staking Risk. The Trust intends to implement a staking program under which a significant portion of the Trust’s NEAR will be staked. While staking NEAR offers the potential to earn rewards in the form of additional NEAR tokens, it also exposes the Trust to several risks, such as loss of rewards, slashing penalties, and operational uncertainties. Staking activities could impair the ability to satisfy redemption orders on a timely basis.
Nondiversification Risk. The Fund is nondiversified and will hold a single issue. As a result, a decline in the market value of a particular issue held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers.
Recency Risk. The Fund is recently organized, giving prospective investors a limited track record on which to base their investment decision. If the Fund is not profitable, the Fund may terminate and liquidate at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders.
Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC serves as the sponsor of the Fund. Foreside Fund Services, LLC serves as the Marketing Agent for NRR, and is not affiliated with Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC, Bitwise, or any of its affiliates.
Media Contact
Stephanie Dressler
pr@bitwiseinvestments.com
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SOURCE Bitwise Asset Management
