Bitwise Has Filed an Application to Register a NEAR Protocol Exchange-Traded Fund for Listing on the New York Stock Exchange's Arca Trading Platform

Bitwise has submitted a Form 8-A registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to list the Bitwise NEAR ETF on NYSE Arca, according to SEC filings reported by BlockBeats on September 25. The filing covers the ETF's ordinary beneficial certificates and would register them for trading on the exchange.

What the filings contain

The Form 8-A was signed on September 24 by Teddy Fusaro, chief operating officer of Bitwise, on the sponsor's behalf. Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC is named as the sponsor. The filing follows an S-1 registration statement that was submitted to the SEC on September 16. The product is described as an exchange-traded product intended to provide exposure to NEAR-related assets.

Background on the parties and the asset

Bitwise is an asset manager known for building investment products tied to digital assets, and it has previously pursued exchange-traded products designed to give traditional brokerage customers a familiar wrapper for crypto exposure. NEAR Protocol is a public, proof-of-stake blockchain network whose native token is used for staking, transaction fees, and network governance. Projects of this kind aim to support decentralized applications and other on-chain activity, and their tokens are typically traded on cryptocurrency exchanges rather than on traditional stock exchanges. An exchange-traded fund or exchange-traded product structure is one route through which such exposure can reach investors who prefer to trade through brokerage accounts.

How the filing fits into a listing

A Form 8-A is used to register securities for trading on an exchange, while an S-1 registration statement relates to offering the underlying securities. The September 24 signature date and the September 16 S-1 submission show the administrative sequence behind the proposed NYSE Arca listing. The source filings do not state an approval status, launch date, ticker, or fee.

Reading the registration process

For market participants, the appearance of these documents is best understood as a procedural step rather than a signal of a completed product. Registration statements and exchange listing applications can move through multiple rounds of review, and the sequence of filings often reflects administrative milestones rather than commercial launch. The distinction between registering a security for trading and registering an offering is central to how such products reach the market: one governs where and how the shares trade, the other governs how they are created and sold. Because the filings described here do not address approval, timing, or economics, any interpretation of the product's prospects should remain grounded in the documents themselves.

Key takeaways

Bitwise has filed a Form 8-A to register the Bitwise NEAR ETF for trading on NYSE Arca, signed by its chief operating officer on the sponsor's behalf, following an earlier S-1 submission. The filings describe an exchange-traded product offering exposure to NEAR-related assets, but they do not indicate approval, a launch date, a ticker, or fees. Investors should treat the documents as one stage in a regulatory process and weigh the well-known risks of digital assets, including volatility, liquidity constraints, and regulatory uncertainty.

Risk Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and summarizes publicly reported news. It is not investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security or cryptocurrency. Digital assets, including NEAR Protocol and related products, can experience extreme price volatility, liquidity risks, regulatory uncertainty, and total loss of capital. ETF filings do not guarantee approval, launch, performance, or suitability. Investors should conduct independent research, understand the risks, and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.