Bitwise Files Spot NEAR ETF, Entering the Altcoin ETF Race

Bitwise Asset Management has filed for a spot NEAR ETF with the SEC, seeking to provide investors direct exposure to the NEAR cryptocurrency. This move joins a growing trend of altcoin-focused ETFs as the company aims to capitalize on the demand for investment opportunities in this sector. 2025 saw a surge in these filings, including applications for Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Hedera, and Avalanche. Bitwise’s NEAR ETF will track the CF NEAR-Dollar benchmark and utilize Coinbase Custody to hold NEAR tokens. The ETF promises to offer direct price exposure without leveraging derivatives or active trading strategies.