NEAR Protocol’s native token climbed into the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization on October 8, 2026, as the blockchain project’s price rose 138% over the preceding 30 days, according to CoinGecko data.
The token traded at $5.51 at the time of writing, up 7% over the previous 24 hours. NEAR’s market capitalization reached $7.2 billion, surpassing Stellar (XLM), which holds a $7 billion market cap. Daily trading volume for NEAR hit $1.2 billion.
The price surge coincides with momentum in NEAR Intents, the protocol’s cross-chain trading system. NEAR Intents has handled $31 billion in cumulative transaction volume since its launch, according to data from the NEAR Intents Explorer.
ETF Launch and Recent Setback
A US spot exchange-traded product tracking NEAR launched on September 29, 2026, on NYSE Arca under the ticker NRR. The Bitwise fund offers investors exposure to NEAR without directly holding the cryptocurrency.
The rally follows a setback for NEAR Intents infrastructure. The protocol suffered a $3.8 million exploit involving its deposit and withdrawal systems the week prior to October 2. On that date, Alex Shevchenko, General Manager of NEAR Intents, announced that all stolen funds had been returned.
NEAR’s entry into the top 20 by market capitalization marks a significant milestone for the blockchain project. The token’s 138% monthly gain positions it ahead of dozens of established cryptocurrency assets in the rankings.
