NEAR token price has 'potential to grow 20x,' says Arthur Hayes

Near Protocol's autochthonal token, NEAR, has the imaginable to turn 20x by 2027, according to Arthur Hayes, co-founder of the crypto derivatives speech BitMEX.

Key takeaways:

• Hayes said NEAR Intents could marque privateness coins similar Zcash much usable crossed blockchains without bridges oregon aggregate wallets.
• NEAR has surged much than 90% since Hayes publically highlighted the token alongside ZEC and HYPE successful May.

NEAR makes privateness coins similar ZEC usable: Hayes

Speaking connected The Rollup podcast, Hayes said NEAR’s bullish lawsuit rests connected NEAR Intents, a diagnostic that lets AI agents determination assets privately crossed blockchains without dealing with bridges, aggregate wallets oregon fragmented liquidity.

The aforesaid infrastructure besides supports NEAR’s broader AI-agent thesis, wherever autonomous apps tin execute payments and trades on-chain.

Hayes linked NEAR’s upside to Zcash (ZEC), the privacy-focused cryptocurrency that has rallied much than 1,000% implicit the past twelvemonth and revived capitalist involvement successful backstage money.

ZEC/USD regular chart. Source: TradingView

He said Near Protocol could go the adjacent large beneficiary of that inclination due to the fact that it helps marque backstage tokens similar ZEC usable beyond a azygous blockchain, allowing users to determination worth crossed the broader crypto economy.

"I tin present nonstop immoderate crypto plus I privation to anyone crossed the net successful an anonymous mode from shielded Zcash utilizing Near Intents," Hayes said, adding:

"I deliberation NEAR has a 20x potential, wherever you cognize Zcash mightiness person a 5x imaginable implicit the adjacent year."

Hayes’ NEAR calls echo his Zcash rally playbook

Hayes' remarks adhd to a drawstring of bullish NEAR endorsements from Hayes.

In a May 11 essay, Hayes explicitly positioned NEAR arsenic 1 of his apical speculative bets alongside ZEC and Hyperliquid's autochthonal token, HYPE.

He reinforced that presumption successful a May 22 post earlier this week, calling HYPE, ZEC and NEAR "the beatified trinity."

NEAR’s terms has grown by implicit 90% since Hayes began publically highlighting the token, arsenic shown below.

NEAR/USD four-hour chart. Source: TradingView

Hayes’ endorsements person historically attracted important attraction from traders, arsenic evidenced by his 2025 Zcash posts.

Related: Zcash is 'running its ain bull market' arsenic ZEC terms paints 88% rally setup

In October 2025, Hayes’ bullish commentary, including "ZEC to $10k" and naming it a halfway holding, acted arsenic a large upside catalyst. ZEC delivered implicit 350% gains successful the pursuing weeks.

ZEC/USD regular chart. Source: TradingView

NEAR fractal hints astatine 35% rally next

NEAR’s existent breakout is starting to lucifer its 2023–2024 betterment setup, erstwhile it bounced from the $0.91–$0.99 scope earlier rallying by astir 250%.

For instance, successful 2026, NEAR has rebounded from the aforesaid $0.91–$0.99 bounce zone, portion its regular comparative spot scale (RSI) has surged to astir 88, showing assertive buying pressure.

The token has besides formed a aureate cross, a bullish awesome wherever the shorter-term moving mean rises supra the longer-term one.

In NEAR's case, the 50-day exponential moving mean (50-day EMA, the reddish line) astatine astir $1.646 has been moving supra the 200-day EMA (the bluish line) astatine astir $1.647.

Traders often presumption this arsenic an aboriginal motion that a downtrend whitethorn beryllium turning into a sustained uptrend.

The archetypal large upside people sits adjacent $3.38–$4.00, a erstwhile enactment portion that whitethorn present enactment arsenic resistance. The $4 people sits astir 35% supra existent prices and could go NEAR’s adjacent trial if the breakout holds.

A decisive determination supra $4.00 would fortify the 2023–2024 fractal and unfastened the doorway to a 250% rally toward the $9–$10 country successful 2026.

Conversely, nonaccomplishment to reclaim the $3.38–$4.00 portion whitethorn pb to a crisp bearish reversal toward the 50- and 200-day EMAs. That would magnitude to astir 45% downside from existent levels.