BitMEX co-founder links Near Protocol token to Zcash rally and cross-chain asset transfers
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, has publicly stated that Near Protocol’s native token, NEAR, has the potential to grow 20x by 2027. Hayes tied the forecast to NEAR Intents, a feature that enables privacy coins to move assets across blockchains without bridges.
“I can now send any crypto asset I want to anyone across the internet in an anonymous way from shielded Zcash using Near Intents,” Hayes said. He added: “I think NEAR has a 20x potential, where you know Zcash might have a 5x potential over the next year.”
Hayes published a bullish essay on May 11, 2026, positioning NEAR as a top speculative bet alongside Zcash (ZEC) and Hyperliquid (HYPE). On May 22, he reinforced the view in a follow-up post, calling the three tokens “the holy trinity.” NEAR has surged approximately 90% since Hayes highlighted the token in May.
The forecast builds on Hayes’ October 2025 bullish commentary on Zcash, which acted as a major catalyst. ZEC has rallied over 1,000% in the past year, with Hayes’ earlier remarks delivering over 350% gains in the weeks that followed. He had called for Zcash to reach $10,000.
Technical setup mirrors prior recovery cycle
NEAR’s current price action echoes its 2023–2024 recovery pattern. The token previously bounced from the $0.91–$0.99 range before rallying approximately 250%. It has formed a golden cross, where the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) has moved above the 200-day EMA, a technical signal often viewed as an early sign of trend reversal.
At the time of analysis, NEAR’s daily relative strength index (RSI) stood at 88, indicating overbought conditions. The 50-day EMA was at $1.646, nearly aligned with the 200-day EMA at $1.647. Analysts cited $3.38–$4.00 as the first major upside target, representing approximately 35% upside from prevailing prices. A sustained rally of 250% in 2026 could push NEAR into the $9–$10 price area.
If the breakout fails, the token faces potential downside of 45%, according to technical levels tracked by market observers. NEAR Intents, which allows AI agents to transfer assets privately across blockchains without multiple wallets or fragmented liquidity, remains the core thesis underpinning Hayes’ conviction.
Hayes’ track record with Zcash commentary has lent credibility to his calls. His October 2025 remarks preceded a 350% rally in ZEC over subsequent weeks, making his latest NEAR commentary a focal point for traders monitoring privacy-focused assets and cross-chain infrastructure plays.
