Near Protocol (NEAR), a high-performance blockchain purpose-built for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and decentralized agents, is displaying strong bullish signals amid growing institutional interest and favorable technical structure. Recent momentum has been fueled by the launch of a regulated staking exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, signaling increased confidence in NEAR’s role at the intersection of blockchain and AI innovation.
As of this writing, NEAR is trading at $2.26, reflecting renewed investor appetite. The price movement coincides with broader positive sentiment across the crypto market and key developments in both institutional adoption and on-chain infrastructure.
Bitwise Launches NEAR Staking ETP on Deutsche Börse Xetra
In a significant step toward mainstream financial integration, Bitwise Europe launched a NEAR staking ETP on Deutsche Börse’s Xetra exchange. This marks a pivotal moment for institutional access to AI-focused blockchain assets, offering regulated exposure to one of the leading protocols in the AI-crypto convergence space.
The ETP, trading under the ticker NEAR, is part of Bitwise’s broader strategy to offer index-linked, staking-enabled products across European markets. A key feature of this product is its active staking mechanism—Bitwise will stake the underlying NEAR holdings to generate yield, targeting an estimated net return of ~5.5% annually after fees. Most of the staked tokens will also be used to provide liquidity on regulated platforms, enhancing market depth and stability.
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This development underscores growing recognition of NEAR as a foundational layer for next-generation internet applications—particularly those integrating AI with decentralized ownership models.
"NEAR is built to enable a new kind of internet—one where AI serves people, not platforms. This ETP brings that vision closer to global investors," said Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of the Near Foundation.
With a current market capitalization of $2.8 billion, NEAR ranks as the second-largest AI-focused crypto asset, just behind Bittensor (TAO), which holds a $2.9 billion valuation. The launch positions NEAR as a top contender in the race to power user-owned AI ecosystems.
Technical Outlook: Breaking Bullish Patterns Toward $2.74 Target
From a technical perspective, NEAR has established a promising upward trajectory following a classic head-and-shoulders reversal (H&S) pattern on the daily chart. This long-term bullish formation was confirmed upon a decisive breakout above the neckline resistance at approximately $2.23.
Currently, the price is trading above two critical moving averages:
- 50-day EMA at $2.15
- 100-day EMA at $2.17
This alignment confirms short-to-medium-term bullish momentum. After breaking out, NEAR surged to an intraday high of $2.36 before pulling back slightly—retesting the former resistance level at $2.23, which now acts as strong support.
The MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) indicator continues to emit a buy signal since Wednesday, with the blue MACD line holding above the red signal line. As long as this configuration remains intact, the path of least resistance points higher.
Based on the measured move target derived from the H&S pattern height, the next major upside objective lies at $2.74—representing a potential 23% gain from the breakout point.
However, traders should remain cautious near immediate resistance levels:
- $2.26: 200-day EMA may act as a temporary ceiling
- Profit-taking pressure could emerge if momentum slows
Should upward momentum falter, key support zones to watch include:
- $2.23: Former neckline, now support
- $2.17–$2.15: Confluence of 100-day and 50-day EMAs
A sustained close below these levels could invalidate the bullish setup and prompt a reevaluation of near-term targets.
Growing Market Interest: Derivatives Activity Surges
Market data reflects rising enthusiasm for NEAR across derivatives platforms:
- Open interest increased by 7% to ~$237 million
- Trading volume spiked 61% to ~$649 million
Total liquidations over the past 24 hours: $628,000
- Longs: $137,000
- Shorts: $490,000
The disproportionate liquidation of short positions suggests that bearish bets are being aggressively taken out—a common precursor to sustained rallies.
This surge in activity highlights increasing conviction among traders and aligns with broader trends of capital rotation into AI-driven blockchain projects.
FAQ: Your Questions About NEAR and the New Staking ETP
Q: What is a staking ETP, and how does it work?
A: A staking ETP is an exchange-traded product that holds a cryptocurrency like NEAR and actively participates in staking to earn rewards. Investors gain exposure to price appreciation plus yield—typically distributed after fees—without managing private keys or running nodes.
Q: Why is NEAR considered AI-native?
A: NEAR Protocol is designed to support decentralized AI applications and intelligent agents through scalable infrastructure, low-latency transactions, and developer-friendly tools. Its architecture enables autonomous AI systems to interact securely with users and other protocols.
Q: How does the Bitwise ETP benefit retail investors?
A: It offers regulated, tax-efficient access to NEAR with built-in staking returns—ideal for investors who prefer traditional brokerage accounts over self-custody wallets.
Q: Is staking NEAR safe through an ETP?
A: Yes. The product is issued by Bitwise Europe, a regulated entity, and custody solutions comply with financial industry standards. While no investment is risk-free, regulatory oversight adds a layer of security compared to direct staking on exchanges.
Q: What makes the head-and-shoulders reversal important?
A: It’s one of the most reliable trend-reversal patterns in technical analysis. When confirmed by volume and follow-through price action, it often precedes significant bullish moves—like the projected rise to $2.74.
Q: Can I stake NEAR directly instead of using the ETP?
A: Absolutely. Direct staking allows full control over rewards and voting rights but requires technical setup. The ETP simplifies access for those seeking hands-off exposure.
Core Keywords Integration
Throughout this analysis, key themes naturally emerge:
- NEAR Protocol
- AI blockchain
- Staking ETP
- Bitwise Europe
- Head-and-shoulders reversal
- Cryptocurrency technical analysis
- Institutional crypto adoption
- NEAR price prediction
These terms reflect strong search intent around investment opportunities, technological innovation, and market trends in the evolving AI-crypto landscape.
Final Thoughts: Institutional Validation Meets Technical Strength
The convergence of institutional product launches and robust technical structure positions NEAR Protocol for potential outperformance in 2025. With Bitwise’s regulated staking ETP now live on Xetra, investor access has never been more seamless—bridging traditional finance with cutting-edge blockchain innovation.
As AI continues to dominate tech narratives, NEAR’s focus on decentralized intelligence and user-owned systems places it at the forefront of sustainable value creation in Web3.
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