The post Bitwise Files S-1 with SEC to Launch Spot $NEAR ETF, Bringing Institutional Exposure to NEAR Protocol appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Bitwise, a premier firm in the world of digital asset management, has formally submitted an S-1 registration to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in pursuit of an opportunity to launch a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would offer direct exposure to $NEAR, the native token of the NEAR Protocol. This event represents a significant advance in the evolution of cryptocurrency investment vehicles. It would allow traditional, SEC-regulated investment funds to gain exposure to NEAR without the complexities (and fund accountant hair-pulling) that come with directly holding or managing the cryptocurrency. If approved, this ETF could signal an opening of the floodgates for more institutional capital to enter the crypto space, a phenomenon many of us in the Bitcoin space like to call the “next bull run.” For years, the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain technology has been interested in decentralized finance and blockchain technology, but direct participation in these markets has proven very challenging for the mainstream investment world. Investors have expressed interest in participating directly in these markets, but directly purchasing, holding, and securing cryptocurrencies has thwarted participation in what many believe to be a world of huge growth potential. Bitwise works on ETFs, and this one is designed to work with an investment in NEAR and then is directly backed with a purchase of NEAR NFTs. Institutional Access and the Future of Crypto ETFs The $NEAR spot ETF filing is part of a broader trend in the crypto space, where institutional and retail investors are increasingly after traditional financial products to interact with digital assets. ETFs are long-popular in traditional markets. They provide exposure to various asset classes (in an ETF’s case, a basket of assets) with ease. They have become a sought-after tool for investors in the digital asset world because of the…

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Filed under: News - @ May 8, 2025 9:24 am