BTC vs NEAR: Bitcoin vs NEAR Protocol — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Bitcoin (BTC) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Native asset of the Bitcoin blockchain. First and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Proof-of-work secured with a hard-capped supply of 21 million coins. Native asset of the NEAR Protocol, a sharded proof-of-stake blockchain with human-readable account names. Used for fees, staking, and governance. As of the last data review, BTC ranks #1 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$1.4T) and NEAR ranks #20 (≈$6B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Bitcoin (BTC) | NEAR Protocol (NEAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #1 | #20 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $1.4T | $6B |
| Category | Layer 1 | Layer 1 |
| Chain(s) | Bitcoin | NEAR |
| Token standard | native | native |
| Launched | January 2009 | April 2020 |
| Consensus role | PoW | PoS |
| Issuer | — | Near Foundation |
| Issuer type | Decentralized (no single issuer) | Decentralized (no single issuer) |
| Total supply | 21,000,000 | 1,180,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 19,700,000 | 1,090,000,000 |
| Max supply | 21,000,000 | uncapped |
Bitcoin (BTC) in brief
- Native asset of the Bitcoin blockchain. First and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Proof-of-work secured with a hard-capped supply of 21 million coins.
- Launched January 2009.
- Chain-native asset of Bitcoin.
- Max supply: 21,000,000.
Full profile: Bitcoin (BTC) token page.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) in brief
- Native asset of the NEAR Protocol, a sharded proof-of-stake blockchain with human-readable account names. Used for fees, staking, and governance.
- Launched April 2020.
- Chain-native asset of NEAR.
- No fixed max supply (uncapped).
- Issuer: Near Foundation.
Full profile: NEAR Protocol (NEAR) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- BTC is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #1 (≈$1.4T) versus rank #20 (≈$6B) for NEAR.
- BTC is the older asset — launched in 2009, 11 years before NEAR (2020).
- They live on different chains — BTC: Bitcoin; NEAR: NEAR.
- BTC has a fixed max supply of 21,000,000; NEAR has no supply cap.
- Both are classified as Layer 1 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, BTC or NEAR?
Bitcoin (BTC) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $1.4T (rank #1) versus $6B (rank #20) for NEAR, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Bitcoin and NEAR Protocol launch?
Bitcoin launched in January 2009; NEAR Protocol launched in April 2020.
Are BTC and NEAR on the same chain?
No. BTC is on Bitcoin, while NEAR is on NEAR.
Does BTC or NEAR have a fixed supply?
Bitcoin (BTC) has a fixed max supply of 21,000,000. NEAR Protocol (NEAR) has no fixed supply cap.
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- Bitcoin (BTC) token profile
- NEAR Protocol (NEAR) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the BTC and NEAR token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.