Bitwise Investment Advisers secured approval from both NYSE Arca and the SEC on September 24, 2026, for its proposed spot NEAR ETF, clearing the final regulatory hurdles needed for a market launch.
The SEC confirmed the effectiveness of the trust's registration statement via Form 8-A on the same date. NYSE Arca approved the listing application, with a potential launch expected around September 29. The ETF will trade under the ticker NRR.
Staking Sets This ETF Apart
The fund is structured to hold NEAR Protocol tokens directly and stake the full position to generate additional yield on top of price appreciation. This approach differs from spot Bitcoin or Ether ETFs, which typically hold assets in cold storage without generating staking rewards.
Coinbase Custody will manage the NEAR tokens, while BNY Mellon handles cash custody and administrative services. The annual management fee is set at 0.75%.
Regulatory Path and Capital
Bitwise organized the trust as a Delaware statutory trust in April 2025, meaning the company spent approximately 17 months from formation to listing approval. Initial seed capital was modest at $200 in net assets as of July 28, 2026, with a planned seed basket of 20,000 shares valued at $500,000 expected to provide working capital ahead of the public launch.
Market Response
NEAR's token price surged approximately 20% within 24 hours of the approval announcement and extended that gain to roughly 26% over the following week.
The SEC's approval of the registration statement does not constitute an endorsement of the underlying asset or the security itself.
