Arthur Hayes Predicts NEAR Protocol Could Surge 2000% by 2027
The NEAR token is following a similar price pattern from 2023–2024 that led to a 250% surge, suggesting comparable gains could materialize in 2026 amid rising privacy cryptocurrency adoption.
NEAR, the native cryptocurrency of Near Protocol, could experience a 20-fold increase by 2027, according to projections from Arthur Hayes, who co-founded the BitMEX crypto derivatives trading platform.
Key takeaways:
- According to Hayes, the NEAR Intents functionality could enhance the cross-chain usability of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Zcash, eliminating the need for bridges or managing multiple wallets.
- Since Hayes publicly mentioned the token alongside ZEC and HYPE in May, NEAR's value has increased by more than 90%.
Hayes: NEAR unlocks usability for privacy coins like ZEC
During an appearance on The Rollup podcast, Hayes explained that the bullish thesis for NEAR centers on NEAR Intents, a capability enabling AI agents to transfer assets privately between different blockchains while avoiding bridges, juggling multiple wallets, or navigating fragmented liquidity pools.
This same technological infrastructure underpins NEAR's wider AI-agent narrative, enabling autonomous applications to process on-chain payments and execute trades independently.
Hayes connected NEAR's potential upside to Zcash (ZEC), the privacy-centric digital currency that has experienced gains exceeding 1,000% throughout the past year, reigniting market enthusiasm for private digital money.
According to his analysis, Near Protocol stands positioned to become the next significant beneficiary of this emerging trend by making private tokens like ZEC functional beyond a single blockchain ecosystem, enabling users to transfer value throughout the wider cryptocurrency landscape.
"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."
NEAR predictions follow Hayes' successful Zcash strategy
Hayes' recent comments continue a series of optimistic endorsements he has made regarding NEAR.
In an essay published on May 11, Hayes clearly identified NEAR as among his highest-conviction speculative positions along with ZEC and HYPE, the native token of Hyperliquid.
He doubled down on that perspective in a May 22 post earlier this week, referring to HYPE, ZEC and NEAR as "the holy trinity."
Since Hayes started publicly promoting the token, NEAR's price has appreciated by more than 90%, as illustrated below.
Hayes' public endorsements have historically generated substantial trader interest, as demonstrated by his 2025 Zcash commentary.
In October 2025, Hayes' optimistic statements, including "ZEC to $10k" and identifying it as a core holding, served as a significant catalyst for upward price movement. ZEC produced gains surpassing 350% in the subsequent weeks.
Technical patterns suggest NEAR could rally 35% next
NEAR's present breakout pattern is beginning to mirror its 2023–2024 recovery structure, during which it rebounded from the $0.91–$0.99 price range before achieving approximately 250% gains.
As an example, in 2026, NEAR has recovered from the identical $0.91–$0.99 support zone, while its daily relative strength index (RSI) has climbed to approximately 88, indicating strong buying momentum.
The cryptocurrency has additionally generated a golden cross formation, a positive technical indicator occurring when the shorter-term moving average crosses above the longer-term one.
For NEAR specifically, the 50-day exponential moving average (50-day EMA, the red line) positioned around $1.646 has crossed above the 200-day EMA (the blue line) positioned around $1.647.
Market participants commonly interpret this pattern as an early indication that a downtrend could be transitioning into a prolonged uptrend.
The initial significant upside objective is located near $3.38–$4.00, a previous support level that could now function as resistance. The $4 target represents approximately 35% upside from current price levels and may become NEAR's next critical test if the breakout pattern maintains.
A convincing break above $4.00 would validate the 2023–2024 fractal pattern and create the possibility for a 250% rally targeting the $9–$10 range in 2026.
On the other hand, an inability to reclaim the $3.38–$4.00 resistance zone could trigger a significant bearish reversal toward the 50- and 200-day EMAs. Such a scenario would represent approximately 45% downside from current price levels.