Ninety percent. That’s how much the NEAR token has pumped since Arthur Hayes, the notoriously outspoken co-founder of BitMEX, started banging the drum. And now he’s doubling down, suggesting this particular crypto dog has the potential to grow 20 times its current value by 2027.
Now, I’ve been around this block longer than most of the crypto bros have been alive, and when I hear ‘20x potential,’ my BS detector goes off like a fire alarm. Especially when it’s tied to a guy whose past predictions—like that Zcash $10k call—have a track record that’s… let’s just say, colorful.
The ‘Privacy Coin Utility’ Pitch
The core of Hayes’ argument, as he laid it out on The Rollup podcast, hinges on something called NEAR Intents. The idea is that this feature can magically make privacy coins, like Zcash (ZEC), actually useful across different blockchains. No more juggling wallets, no more fiddly bridges. Just anonymous transactions, apparently. Hayes is linking this to a broader AI-agent thesis, where autonomous apps can handle payments and trades on-chain, all while maintaining privacy.
“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, adding: “I think NEAR has a 20x potential, where you know Zcash might have a 5x potential over the next year.”
So, in Hayes’ world, NEAR becomes the highway for these privacy-focused coins. It’s supposed to be the plumbing that lets the expensive, artisanal privacy coins flow freely through the less-exclusive parts of the crypto economy. It’s a neat narrative, I’ll give him that. But who’s actually paying for this highway, and more importantly, who’s collecting the tolls?
Echoes of Zcash Past?
Holding up Zcash as a comparable play is… interesting. ZEC has indeed had a monster run, fueled partly by that very same investor hunger for privacy. Hayes himself championed ZEC back in late 2025, and sure enough, it rallied. But is history repeating itself, or is this just a convenient narrative to pump up a new set of tokens? I lean towards the latter.
Hat tip to the NEAR team, though. Since Hayes started his public endorsement campaign—which, let’s be honest, is the real marketing here—NEAR’s price has already hopped up over 90%. Coincidence? In crypto, ‘coincidence’ is often just a euphemism for ‘coordinated pump.’
Charting a Path to $10 (Maybe?)
Beyond the punditry, there’s some technical analysis being thrown around. The argument is that NEAR’s current price action is eerily similar to a setup in 2023-2024, which preceded a 250% rally. They’re pointing to a ‘golden cross’ on the charts, where a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term one—a classic bullish signal. If all this plays out, they’re looking at a target of around $3.38-$4.00, a potential 35% jump from current levels. A decisive break above $4.00, they claim, could open the door to a colossal 250% surge, pushing NEAR into the $9-$10 range by 2026.
Of course, the flip side is always there. If NEAR stumbles and can’t reclaim that $4 zone, we could see a swift 45% drop. It’s the same old dance: hop on the hype train or get left behind when it derails.
The Real Question: Who Benefits?
Look, I’ve seen plenty of tokens get hyped to the moon on the back of pronouncements from influential figures. Sometimes they deliver, sure. More often, it’s a flash in the pan, leaving retail investors holding the bag while the early movers cash out. Hayes might genuinely believe in NEAR’s tech, or he might just be strategically placing himself and his associates to profit from the buzz he creates.
What I’m interested in is the underlying technology. If NEAR Intents actually makes privacy coins more usable and secure across the board, that’s a tangible development. But does that translate to a 20x token price? That’s a leap. Token prices in crypto are often more a function of narrative and speculation than pure utility. And right now, the narrative is being supplied by Arthur Hayes, and the speculation is being fueled by the promise of those 20x gains.
Is NEAR the next big thing, or just the latest vehicle for a well-known personality to move the market? Based on the history of this space, I’d advise extreme caution. Always ask: who’s making money, and who’s just getting caught in the crossfire?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will NEAR Intents actually make privacy coins more usable? The promise of NEAR Intents is indeed to simplify cross-chain privacy coin transactions without the need for multiple wallets or complex bridges. If it functions as described, it could significantly enhance usability for users who want to transact privately across different blockchain ecosystems.
Is Arthur Hayes always right about crypto predictions? Arthur Hayes has a notable history of making bold predictions in the crypto space, some of which have aligned with market movements (like his Zcash calls). However, his track record also includes predictions that have not materialized, and his influence is often debated, with some seeing him as a market mover and others as a contrarian indicator. It’s always wise to approach any prediction, including his, with a healthy dose of skepticism.
How does NEAR compare to other Layer-1 blockchains? NEAR Protocol is a Layer-1 blockchain designed for scalability and ease of use, employing a sharding architecture called Nightshade. Its competitive landscape includes other prominent Layer-1s like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano, each with its own unique technological approaches and developer ecosystems. The introduction of features like NEAR Intents aims to carve out a specific niche, particularly in areas like AI integration and enhanced privacy features for asset transfers.
