ETH vs NEAR: Ethereum vs NEAR Protocol — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Ethereum (ETH) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Native asset of the Ethereum blockchain, used to pay gas fees and secure the network through proof-of-stake consensus. Launched in 2015 with smart contract support. 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, ETH ranks #2 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$420B) and NEAR ranks #20 (≈$6B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Ethereum (ETH) | NEAR Protocol (NEAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #2 | #20 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $420B | $6B |
| Category | Layer 1 | Layer 1 |
| Chain(s) | Ethereum | NEAR |
| Token standard | native | native |
| Launched | July 2015 | April 2020 |
| Consensus role | PoS | PoS |
| Issuer | Ethereum Foundation | Near Foundation |
| Issuer type | Decentralized (no single issuer) | Decentralized (no single issuer) |
| Total supply | 120,500,000 | 1,180,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 120,500,000 | 1,090,000,000 |
| Max supply | uncapped | uncapped |
Ethereum (ETH) in brief
- Native asset of the Ethereum blockchain, used to pay gas fees and secure the network through proof-of-stake consensus. Launched in 2015 with smart contract support.
- Launched July 2015.
- Chain-native asset of Ethereum.
- No fixed max supply (uncapped).
- Issuer: Ethereum Foundation.
Full profile: Ethereum (ETH) 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)
- ETH is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #2 (≈$420B) versus rank #20 (≈$6B) for NEAR.
- ETH is the older asset — launched in 2015, 5 years before NEAR (2020).
- They live on different chains — ETH: Ethereum; NEAR: NEAR.
- Both are classified as Layer 1 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, ETH or NEAR?
Ethereum (ETH) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $420B (rank #2) versus $6B (rank #20) for NEAR, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Ethereum and NEAR Protocol launch?
Ethereum launched in July 2015; NEAR Protocol launched in April 2020.
Are ETH and NEAR on the same chain?
No. ETH is on Ethereum, while NEAR is on NEAR.
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- Ethereum (ETH) token profile
- NEAR Protocol (NEAR) token profile
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Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the ETH 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.