diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
index c750c97ebc..79bbb41515 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { BaseCoin as CoinConfig } from '@bitgo/statics';
 
 import { FT_TRANSFER, STORAGE_DEPOSIT } from './constants';
 import { ContractCallWrapper } from './contractCallWrapper';
+import { AddressValidationError } from './errors';
 import { StorageDepositInput } from './iface';
 import { Transaction } from './transaction';
 import { TransactionBuilder } from './transactionBuilder';
@@ -77,7 +78,9 @@ export class FungibleTokenTransferBuilder extends TransactionBuilder {
    * @param accountId the receiver account id
    */
   public ftReceiverId(accountId: string): this {
-    utils.isValidAddress(accountId);
+    if (!accountId || !utils.isValidAddress(accountId)) {
+      throw new AddressValidationError(accountId);
+    }
     this.contractCallWrapper.args = { receiver_id: accountId };
     return this;
   }
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
index 37ec368b6c..107efbdacf 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { BuildTransactionError, TransactionType } from '@bitgo/sdk-core';
 import { BaseCoin as CoinConfig } from '@bitgo/statics';
 
 import { ContractCallWrapper } from './contractCallWrapper';
+import { AddressValidationError } from './errors';
 import { Transaction } from './transaction';
 import { TransactionBuilder } from './transactionBuilder';
 import { STORAGE_DEPOSIT } from './constants';
@@ -66,7 +67,9 @@ export class StorageDepositTransferBuilder extends TransactionBuilder {
    * @param accountId the receiver account id
    */
   public beneficiaryId(accountId: string): this {
-    utils.isValidAddress(accountId);
+    if (!accountId || !utils.isValidAddress(accountId)) {
+      throw new AddressValidationError(accountId);
+    }
     this.contractCallWrapper.args = { account_id: accountId };
     return this;
   }
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/transactionBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/transactionBuilder.ts
index eb01fee92a..e2b175ba7d 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/transactionBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/lib/transactionBuilder.ts
@@ -163,7 +163,9 @@ export abstract class TransactionBuilder extends BaseTransactionBuilder {
    * @returns {TransactionBuilder} This transaction builder
    */
   public receiverId(accountId: string): this {
-    utils.isValidAddress(accountId);
+    if (!accountId || !utils.isValidAddress(accountId)) {
+      throw new AddressValidationError(accountId);
+    }
     this._receiverId = accountId;
     return this;
   }
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/near.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/near.ts
index f4ca475aa0..b6f94895cc 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/near.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/src/near.ts
@@ -830,6 +830,43 @@ export class Near extends BaseCoin {
     return availableBalance.toString();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Checks whether a NEAR account exists on-chain via the `view_account` RPC query.
+   *
+   * Implicit accounts (64-character lowercase hex, i.e. a raw ed25519 public key) are excluded
+   * from this check: an unfunded implicit account also reports UNKNOWN_ACCOUNT even though a
+   * transfer to it is a valid way to create it on-chain, so treating that as "does not exist"
+   * would incorrectly block legitimate transfers.
+   *
+   * @param {string} accountId the account id to check
+   * @returns {Promise<boolean>} true if the account exists (or is an implicit account), false otherwise
+   */
+  protected async doesAccountExist(accountId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/.test(accountId)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    const response = await this.getDataFromNode({
+      payload: {
+        jsonrpc: '2.0',
+        id: 'dontcare',
+        method: 'query',
+        params: {
+          request_type: 'view_account',
+          finality: 'final',
+          account_id: accountId,
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    const errorCause = response.body.error?.cause?.name;
+    if (errorCause === 'UNKNOWN_ACCOUNT') {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (errorCause !== undefined) {
+      throw new Error(errorCause);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Function to get the fungible token balance for an account
    * @param {String} accountId account for which the ft balance to be fetched
@@ -1086,6 +1123,17 @@ export class Near extends BaseCoin {
       if (!totalAmount.isEqualTo(explainedTx.outputAmount) && txParams.type !== 'enabletoken') {
         throw new Error('Tx total amount does not match with expected total amount field');
       }
+
+      // enabletoken recipients are the wallet's own storage/token contract accounts, not
+      // user-supplied destinations, so existence checking doesn't apply to them.
+      if (txParams.type !== 'enabletoken') {
+        for (const recipient of txParams.recipients) {
+          const exists = await this.doesAccountExist(recipient.address);
+          if (!exists) {
+            throw new Error(`Recipient account '${recipient.address}' does not exist on NEAR`);
+          }
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     if (params.verification?.consolidationToBaseAddress) {
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/near.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/near.ts
index a4e603cf31..9f763d78fd 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/near.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/near.ts
@@ -443,6 +443,11 @@ describe('NEAR:', function () {
     });
 
     it('should verify activate staking transaction', async function () {
+      const sandBox = sinon.createSandbox();
+      sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near).resolves({
+        status: 200,
+        body: { result: { amount: '0', locked: '0', storage_usage: 0 } },
+      });
       const txBuilder = factory.getStakingActivateBuilder();
       txBuilder
         .amount(amount)
@@ -467,6 +472,7 @@ describe('NEAR:', function () {
       };
       const validTransaction = await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild });
       validTransaction.should.equal(true);
+      sandBox.restore();
     });
 
     it('should verify deactivate staking transaction', async function () {
@@ -518,6 +524,119 @@ describe('NEAR:', function () {
       validTransaction.should.equal(true);
     });
 
+    describe('Recipient account existence check', () => {
+      const namedReceiverId = 'somereceiver.testnet';
+      const sandBox = sinon.createSandbox();
+
+      afterEach(() => {
+        sandBox.restore();
+      });
+
+      const buildNamedTransferTxPrebuild = async () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+        txBuilder
+          .sender(accounts.account1.address, accounts.account1.publicKey)
+          .nonce(BigInt(1))
+          .receiverId(namedReceiverId)
+          .recentBlockHash(blockHash.block1)
+          .amount(amount);
+        txBuilder.sign({ key: accounts.account1.secretKey });
+        const tx = await txBuilder.build();
+        return { txHex: tx.toBroadcastFormat() };
+      };
+
+      it('should succeed when the named recipient account exists on-chain', async function () {
+        const stub = sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near).resolves({
+          status: 200,
+          body: { result: { amount: '0', locked: '0', storage_usage: 0 } },
+        });
+        const txPrebuild = await buildNamedTransferTxPrebuild();
+        const txParams = {
+          recipients: [{ address: namedReceiverId, amount }],
+        };
+        const validTransaction = await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild });
+        validTransaction.should.equal(true);
+        stub.calledOnce.should.equal(true);
+      });
+
+      it('should fail when the named recipient account does not exist on-chain', async function () {
+        sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near).resolves({
+          status: 200,
+          body: { error: { cause: { name: 'UNKNOWN_ACCOUNT' } } },
+        });
+        const txPrebuild = await buildNamedTransferTxPrebuild();
+        const txParams = {
+          recipients: [{ address: namedReceiverId, amount }],
+        };
+        await basecoin
+          .verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild })
+          .should.be.rejectedWith(`Recipient account '${namedReceiverId}' does not exist on NEAR`);
+      });
+
+      it('should propagate other RPC errors from the existence check', async function () {
+        sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near).resolves({
+          status: 200,
+          body: { error: { cause: { name: 'SOME_OTHER_ERROR' } } },
+        });
+        const txPrebuild = await buildNamedTransferTxPrebuild();
+        const txParams = {
+          recipients: [{ address: namedReceiverId, amount }],
+        };
+        await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild }).should.be.rejectedWith('SOME_OTHER_ERROR');
+      });
+
+      it('should not call the RPC for implicit (hex) recipient accounts', async function () {
+        const stub = sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near);
+        const txPrebuild = newTxPrebuild();
+        const txParams = newTxParams();
+        const validTransaction = await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild });
+        validTransaction.should.equal(true);
+        stub.called.should.equal(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should also check existence for staking transaction recipients', async function () {
+        const stub = sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near).resolves({
+          status: 200,
+          body: { result: { amount: '0', locked: '0', storage_usage: 0 } },
+        });
+        const txBuilder = factory.getStakingActivateBuilder();
+        txBuilder
+          .amount(amount)
+          .gas(gas)
+          .sender(accounts.account1.address, accounts.account1.publicKey)
+          .receiverId(validatorContractAddress)
+          .recentBlockHash(blockHash.block1)
+          .nonce(BigInt(1));
+        txBuilder.sign({ key: accounts.account1.secretKey });
+        const tx = await txBuilder.build();
+        const txPrebuild = { txHex: tx.toBroadcastFormat() };
+        const txParams = {
+          recipients: [{ address: validatorContractAddress, amount: '1000000' }],
+        };
+        const validTransaction = await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild });
+        validTransaction.should.equal(true);
+        stub.calledOnce.should.equal(true);
+      });
+
+      it('should not call the RPC for enabletoken recipients', async function () {
+        const stub = sandBox.stub(Near.prototype, 'getDataFromNode' as keyof Near);
+        const txPrebuild = { txHex: testData.rawTx.selfStorageDeposit.unsigned };
+        const txParams = {
+          type: 'enabletoken',
+          recipients: [
+            {
+              address: testData.accounts.account1.address,
+              amount: '0',
+              tokenName: 'tnear:tnep24dp',
+            },
+          ],
+        };
+        const validTransaction = await basecoin.verifyTransaction({ txParams, txPrebuild });
+        validTransaction.should.equal(true);
+        stub.called.should.equal(false);
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should verify a spoofed consolidation transaction', async function () {
       // Set up wallet data
       const walletData = {
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
index 32fb40b02a..eacc4d7f71 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/fungibleTokenTransferBuilder.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert';
 import should from 'should';
 import * as base58 from 'bs58';
 
@@ -47,6 +48,37 @@ describe('Near: Fungible Token Transfer Builder', () => {
       return txBuilder;
     };
 
+    describe('should fail', function () {
+      it('should throw when ftReceiverId is empty', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getFungibleTokenTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(() => txBuilder.ftReceiverId(''), /The address '' is not a well-formed near address/);
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when ftReceiverId has spaces', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getFungibleTokenTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.ftReceiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address1),
+          /The address 'not ok' is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when ftReceiverId has invalid characters', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getFungibleTokenTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.ftReceiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address4),
+          /The address '\$\$\$' is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when ftReceiverId is too long', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getFungibleTokenTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.ftReceiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address5),
+          /is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('fungible token builder environment', function () {
       it('should select the right network', function () {
         should.equal(factory.getFungibleTokenTransferBuilder().coinName(), coinNameTest);
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
index 94a4c6a334..20167bb826 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/storageDepositTransferBuilder.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert';
 import should from 'should';
 import * as base58 from 'bs58';
 
@@ -44,6 +45,37 @@ describe('Near: Storage Deposit Transfer Builder', () => {
       return txBuilder;
     };
 
+    describe('should fail', function () {
+      it('should throw when beneficiaryId is empty', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getStorageDepositTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(() => txBuilder.beneficiaryId(''), /The address '' is not a well-formed near address/);
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when beneficiaryId has spaces', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getStorageDepositTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.beneficiaryId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address1),
+          /The address 'not ok' is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when beneficiaryId has invalid characters', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getStorageDepositTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.beneficiaryId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address4),
+          /The address '\$\$\$' is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should throw when beneficiaryId is too long', () => {
+        const txBuilder = factory.getStorageDepositTransferBuilder();
+        assert.throws(
+          () => txBuilder.beneficiaryId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address5),
+          /is not a well-formed near address/
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('fungible token builder environment', function () {
       it('should select the right network', function () {
         should.equal(factory.getStorageDepositTransferBuilder().coinName(), coinNameTest);
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transactionBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transactionBuilder.ts
index 8a68345d3c..cbc0e0a3ba 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transactionBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transactionBuilder.ts
@@ -123,4 +123,35 @@ describe('NEAR Transaction Builder', async () => {
       );
     }
   });
+
+  describe('should fail when receiverId is invalid', async () => {
+    it('should throw on empty receiverId', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(() => txBuilder.receiverId(''), /The address '' is not a well-formed near address/);
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId with spaces', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address1),
+        /The address 'not ok' is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId with invalid characters', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address4),
+        /The address '\$\$\$' is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId that is too long', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address5),
+        /is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transferBuilder.ts b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transferBuilder.ts
index 93b87b8fed..8cca06a976 100644
--- a/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transferBuilder.ts
+++ b/modules/sdk-coin-near/test/unit/transactionBuilder/transferBuilder.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert';
 import { getBuilderFactory } from '../getBuilderFactory';
 import { KeyPair } from '../../../src';
 import should from 'should';
@@ -8,6 +9,37 @@ import * as base58 from 'bs58';
 describe('Near Transfer Builder', () => {
   const factory = getBuilderFactory('tnear');
 
+  describe('Fail', () => {
+    it('should throw on empty receiverId', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(() => txBuilder.receiverId(''), /The address '' is not a well-formed near address/);
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId with spaces', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address1),
+        /The address 'not ok' is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId with invalid characters', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address4),
+        /The address '\$\$\$' is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should throw on receiverId that is too long', () => {
+      const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();
+      assert.throws(
+        () => txBuilder.receiverId(testData.accounts.errorsAccounts.address5),
+        /is not a well-formed near address/
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('Succeed', () => {
     it('build a transfer tx unsigned', async () => {
       const txBuilder = factory.getTransferBuilder();