NEAR Protocol Receives Institutional Boost with New Laser Digital Fund

Laser Digital, the digital assets subsidiary of Nomura, has launched a new investment fund aimed at boosting institutional adoption of NEAR Protocol. The Laser Digital NEAR Adoption Fund is designed to offer long-term exposure to NEAR, the native token of the NEAR Protocol, a blockchain focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized applications (dApps).

This new fund follows Laser Digital’s launch of a Bitcoin adoption fund in September 2023. The NEAR fund will be powered by TruStake, an institutional-grade staking solution developed by TruFin, a crypto platform. The fund allows participants to engage in blockchain consensus and earn rewards through staking, which provides a way to generate economic returns while supporting the adoption and growth of the NEAR ecosystem.

Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, emphasized that the fund offers institutional investors a seamless method to gain exposure to digital assets, with a long-term focus on NEAR Protocol. This move taps into two significant investment themes: the growth of digital assets and the rise of AI technologies, while also incorporating a carry overlay through staking rewards.

NEAR Protocol is a blockchain that emphasizes AI, user-owned AI, chain abstraction, sharded blockchain design, and intents—features that aim to facilitate the future of decentralized AI. These characteristics, alongside the growing interest in AI agents and Web3 technologies, position NEAR at the intersection of crypto and AI innovation, further boosting its relevance in the current market.

The fund is specifically designed for institutional and professional investors and will be available in selected jurisdictions, with the U.S. excluded. It will be accessible both in traditional investment formats and via wealth management platforms, allowing broader access to NEAR Protocol’s growing ecosystem.

In summary, the NEAR Adoption Fund aims to provide a strategic avenue for investors to benefit from the growth of NEAR Protocol, tapping into the convergence of digital assets and artificial intelligence.