Arthur Hayes, co-founder of crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, is predicting a 20x surge for Near Protocol's native token, NEAR, by 2027. Hayes made the bullish call on The Rollup podcast, citing NEAR Intents as a key catalyst. This feature enables AI agents to move assets privately across blockchains without bridges or multiple wallets, making privacy coins like Zcash (ZEC) usable on a wider scale.
Hayes' endorsement has already paid off: NEAR has surged over 90% since he first highlighted it alongside ZEC and HYPE in May. He says NEAR could outpace even Zcash, which has rallied more than 1,000% in the past year.
Hayes's public bets hold weight. His October 2025 Zcash posts, including "ZEC to $10k," triggered gains of more than 350%. Now, traders are watching a potential NEAR breakout. The token has formed a golden cross, a bullish signal that often precedes sustained uptrends.
Analysts see a first target of $3.38 to $4.00, roughly 35% above current prices. A decisive move above that level could open the door to a 250% rally toward the $9-$10 area. However, failure to reclaim that resistance zone could lead to a sharp bearish reversal of up to 45%.