NEAR Protocol gains momentum via AI narrative and new US ETF

NEAR Protocol has seen significant market momentum driven by its integration into the artificial intelligence narrative and new financial products. Grayscale recently identified NEAR as a platform for agentic commerce, a concept where self-directed AI agents can request work, pay for services, and interact with applications via blockchain technology.

In the United States, the launch of Bitwise’s first spot NEAR ETF on NYSE Arca has provided additional institutional interest. The fund, which holds and stakes NEAR tokens, reportedly attracted approximately $58 million within its first week of trading. This follows a period of high volatility and price appreciation for the NEAR token throughout September.

On the technical side, the ecosystem is undergoing a transition as MyNearWallet prepares to sunset its services on October 31. Users are being directed to migrate to alternative options such as Meteor Wallet and near.com to ensure continued access to the network.