Bitwise Launches NEAR ETF With 5% Yield and an AI Bet

Key Takeaways

• Bitwise has launched NRR, offering spot NEAR exposure with roughly 5% staking rewards.
• The ETF expands U.S. access to staking-based crypto and strengthens NEAR’s AI-infrastructure pitch.
• AI-agent demand could translate into sustained NEAR ETF inflows.

Why Bitwise Is Bringing NEAR to Wall Street

Bitwise is taking the AI-meets-crypto trade to the U.S. ETF market.

The asset manager launched the Bitwise NEAR ETF, trading under the ticker NRR on NYSE Arca from Sept. 29. The fund provides spot exposure to NEAR and is expected to stake its holdings through Bitwise’s institutional staking team.

Bitwise is targeting participation in NEAR’s average staking rewards of around 5%, giving investors potential income alongside any appreciation in the token. The management fee is 0.75%.

The launch expands Bitwise’s U.S. single-asset crypto lineup, which already includes products tied to bitcoin, ether, solana, XRP, and Hyperliquid’s HYPE.

Bitwise Is Selling NEAR as an AI Infrastructure Play

The investment case is built around NEAR’s role in autonomous digital commerce.

“NEAR sits at the intersection of two of the biggest trends in technology: AI and crypto,” said Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s chief investment officer.