Near Protocol

Near Protocol

Sharded proof-of-stake blockchain for scalable dapps

Overview

NEAR Protocol runs a fully sharded, proof-of-stake blockchain designed for mainstream Web3 adoption. Its Chain Abstraction enables scalable performance to support billions of users, with validators securing the network and developers building DeFi, NFT, and other apps. Transactions incur fees and staking rewards provide the main revenue, making the platform self-sustaining. The goal is to be a foundational, easy-to-use platform that combines scalability, security, and broad accessibility for developers, enterprises, and end-users.

About Near Protocol

Simplify's Rating
Why Near Protocol is rated
C+
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated C on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Data & Analytics

Enterprise Software

Crypto & Web3

Financial Services

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$535.7M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2018

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The Intents fee switch went live on February 23, 2026, creating direct revenue capture.
  • Confidential TVL hit $70 million on September 17, 2026, triggering the [email protected] campaign.
  • Nearcore 2.14.0 rc.1 added post-quantum signing and database upgrades on September 20, 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Rhea Finance lost $7.6 million on April 16, 2026, exposing application-layer fragility.
  • NEAR still competes with Solana, Ethereum, and specialized intent networks for developer mindshare.
  • If Intents volume fades, February 2026 buybacks stay too small against ongoing NEAR issuance.

What makes Near Protocol unique

  • NEAR Intents processed $27B+ volume across 34 chains by September 2026.
  • Confidential Intents became generally available on July 7, 2026, for private cross-chain execution.
  • NEAR AI launched staking-based payments on July 30, 2026, tying tokens to compute.

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Funding

Total Funding

$535.7M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

5 Rounds

Late VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Late VC Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 0%

1 year growth

↑ 3%

2 year growth

↑ 0%
CoinTrust.com
Sep 24th, 2026
Venice AI chooses NEAR for encrypted AI inference.

Venice AI chooses NEAR for encrypted AI inference. Partnership expands NEAR's role in privacy-focused artificial intelligence. Reading Time: 3 mins read Venice AI has selected NEAR Protocol as infrastructure for its privacy-focused artificial intelligence services, marking a new development in the integration of blockchain technology with confidential AI workloads. The announcement places NEAR at the center of an implementation involving verifiably encrypted inference, rather than a municipal blockchain initiative by the Italian city of Venice. The integration is designed to allow Venice AI users to run AI workloads with privacy protections that can be verified through technical mechanisms, including Trusted Execution Environments and end-to-end encryption. The development gives NEAR a direct use case in private AI infrastructure while extending the relationship between blockchain-based systems and AI applications. NEAR has increasingly positioned itself as infrastructure for AI-related applications, with its network supporting high-throughput blockchain operations and services focused on confidential computation. The protocol currently describes its infrastructure as supporting 600-millisecond block times, 1.2-second finality, and scalability of up to 1 million transactions per second. Confidential AI becomes a central focus. Venice AI has been developing privacy-oriented AI services in which sensitive prompts and generated content can receive additional protection during processing. Its integration with NEAR AI infrastructure provides access to private inference capabilities using hardware-enforced security environments. NEAR's website identifies Venice AI as an existing user of its private inference infrastructure, with prompts processed inside hardware-enforced enclaves. This approach is intended to reduce exposure of sensitive information while allowing AI applications to use advanced computational models. The latest development builds on an earlier September announcement involving Venice and NEAR. The integration has subsequently expanded into verifiably encrypted AI inference, with both Trusted Execution Environment and end-to-end encrypted models included in the implementation. The technical model could be significant for developers and businesses that need AI capabilities while maintaining stronger privacy controls. Rather than relying solely on policy commitments concerning data handling, the architecture uses technical safeguards designed to provide measurable protection during computation. NEAR expands its AI infrastructure strategy. The development also fits into NEAR's broader strategy of positioning the protocol as infrastructure for AI agents and applications. Its chain-abstraction architecture is designed to allow applications and AI systems to interact with assets and services across multiple blockchain networks. NEAR also operates Chain Signatures and NEAR Intents for cross-chain execution and transactions. NEAR has increasingly combined these blockchain capabilities with privacy and AI infrastructure. Its current platform emphasizes private inference, secure agent environments, and confidential transactions as components of its broader technology stack. For developers, the Venice integration provides an example of how private AI workloads can be connected with blockchain infrastructure without requiring users to expose sensitive information in conventional processing environments. Adoption will determine broader network impact. The partnership may also increase attention on NEAR's network activity as confidential AI applications expand. However, the available announcements do not establish a specific transaction-volume target or quantify how much additional network activity Venice's implementation will generate. That distinction is important because the technical significance of the integration does not automatically translate into measurable changes in token demand or network usage. The longer-term impact will depend on the scale of Venice's AI workloads and the extent to which other developers adopt similar infrastructure. NEAR has continued expanding its AI and privacy capabilities alongside broader blockchain developments. Its platform now highlights confidential inference, cross-chain transactions, and AI agents as interconnected parts of its infrastructure strategy. For Venice AI users and developers, the implementation provides a framework for running AI inference with verifiable encryption and hardware-based privacy protections, while giving NEAR a concrete application for its confidential AI infrastructure. The development therefore represents a shift from blockchain being used primarily as a transaction or settlement layer toward its potential role as supporting infrastructure for private and verifiable artificial intelligence services.

PR Newswire
Sep 22nd, 2026
Near.com partners with Ondo to bring tokenized US stocks and ETFs alongside crypto, confidentially

Near.com has partnered with Ondo Finance to offer tokenised US stocks and ETFs alongside cryptocurrency holdings. Eligible users can buy and hold tokenised securities such as NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple stocks, plus ETFs like QQQ, using USDC, Bitcoin, or other supported assets across more than 30 networks. The integration connects users to Ondo's platform, which currently holds over $1 billion in total value locked and has processed over $26 billion in cumulative trading volume. Users can manage both traditional market exposure and digital assets through a single near.com account, with confidential execution built into the experience. The service is not available in the United States, to US persons, in Canada, or in other prohibited jurisdictions.

Phemex
Sep 22nd, 2026
Near enables private crypto purchases of Ondo tokenized U.S. Stocks across 30+ networks.

Near enables private crypto purchases of Ondo tokenized U.S. Stocks across 30+ networks. Phemex News 2026/09/22 09:31 Near has integrated Ondo Finance's tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, allowing users to purchase these assets using cryptocurrency from over 30 networks. The integration expands access to traditional equity markets through blockchain infrastructure without requiring fiat on-ramps. Trades are executed privately and are not broadcast on-chain, distinguishing this offering from typical transparent decentralized transactions. This privacy-focused execution model aims to provide a discreet trading experience for users accessing tokenized real-world assets via the Near ecosystem. Disclaimer: The content provided on Phemex News is for informational purposes only. Phemex do not guarantee the quality, accuracy, or completeness of the information sourced from third-party articles. The content on this page does not constitute financial or investment advice. Phemex strongly encourage you to conduct you own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Bitcoinist
Sep 20th, 2026
NEAR ships nearcore 2.14.0 RC with protocol and database upgrade.

NEAR ships nearcore 2.14.0 RC with protocol and database upgrade. Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure * NEAR has released nearcore 2.14.0-rc.1. * The release is marked as both a protocol and database upgrade. * It remains a release candidate rather than the final stable build. NEAR developers have published the first release candidate for nearcore 2.14.0, bringing a fresh set of protocol changes into testing. The release, 2.14.0-rc.1, is explicitly marked as both a protocol upgrade and a database upgrade. That makes it more consequential for node operators than a routine bug-fix release. It is still an RC, though, so this is not the point to treat every included change as permanently locked into the final production version. The protocol itself is changing. The 2.14.0 changelog contains several notable changes. One removes contract gas rewards, reducing the burnt-gas reward parameter from 30% to zero. Another introduces a bound on the combined size of resolved promise inputs, preventing excessively large receipt inputs from growing without an explicit protocol limit. The release also adds an ml_dsa_verify host function, allowing contracts to verify ML-DSA-65 signatures on-chain. That last addition is particularly interesting because ML-DSA is a post-quantum digital signature standard. It does not suddenly make the whole NEAR network quantum-proof. But it gives smart contracts a native primitive for verifying that class of signature where developers want to use it. Release candidate means test it first. The RC label matters. Release candidates are where validator operators and developers get a chance to run the software under realistic conditions before the final stable build is promoted. Database upgrades deserve particular care because they can affect how node state is stored and migrated. A protocol-version change raises the stakes further. Nodes need compatible software before the associated protocol upgrade activates if they want to keep participating normally in consensus. For ordinary NEAR users, there is nothing obvious to install. This is infrastructure software for the people running the network. But those infrastructure releases are where many of the features users eventually experience first arrive. nearcore 2.14.0 is now moving through that pipeline. Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. Bitcoinist uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by its team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of its content for its readers. For updates and exclusive offers enter your email. I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.

Dropstab
Sep 18th, 2026
Anthropic has opened a biolab and is scaling up its AI-powered drug development program.

Anthropic has opened a biolab and is scaling up its AI-powered drug development program. 18 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials The laboratory is located in the San Francisco Bay Area - it's intended for real biological experiments, not just computations. The direction is headed by Eric Cauderer-Abrams. The focus is on preclinical research and "incurable" diseases that pharmaceutical companies typically overlook. Laboratory processes are automated by robots controlled by AI. The company emphasizes that it does not plan to conduct clinical trials and does not intend to directly compete with pharmaceutical companies bringing drugs to market. NEAR has launched private pools based on Hyperliquid. 18 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials 56% growth in two days Starting September 17, all perpetual positions on NEAR are opened privately: no one can see who's trading or where the funds are coming from. The trades themselves are visible in Hyperliquid's order book, but they can no longer be linked to a specific wallet. Technically, this works via a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which separates the trader's public account from their trading activity. The NEAR perpetual engine didn't develop its own solution - it adopted Hyperliquid's instead; the integration was completed back on June 9. This provides access to deposits from over 35 networks, more than 50 markets, and leverage of up to 40x. Privacy here isn't an option - it's the default. Typically in crypto, such tools need to be enabled manually. Hyperliquid (HYPE) = $91, hit an all-time high following the launch of the lending and borrowing market. 18 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials Announcement: Manual borrows have been launched on Hyperliquid Portfolio margin and manual borrows share the same underlying HyperCore infrastructure - currently, $269 million in assets have been borrowed. Users can deposit HYPE and BTC as collateral to borrow quoted assets (USDC and USDT). Interest is accrued on borrowed quoted assets, while interest income is generated on provided assets; rates are determined by the utilization level. World (WLD) has launched the financial superapp World Money with stablecoins and Stripe integration. 18 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials World has launched the World Money app in more than 150 countries. The service combines stablecoin payments, trading, yield products, and virtual accounts. The app operates on a self-custody model and supports balances in eight currencies. Users will be able to send digital assets worldwide. In the U.S., integration with Stripe will allow users to convert funds from Apple Pay into stablecoins. World Money is also integrated with Kalshi and Morpho. Users who have verified themselves through World ID will be eligible for enhanced rewards in certain Earn programs. World is developed by Tools for Humanity, co-founded by Alex Blania and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The availability of specific features and assets will depend on the user's country. ECB President Christine Lagarde personally blocked Binance's entry into the European Union market. 17 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials According to the Wall Street Journal, ECB President Christine Lagarde intervened in Binance's MiCA licensing process in Greece and asked the country's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve the application. By the end of May, everything seemed settled. The Greek regulator had made it clear to the exchange that there were no issues; a press release titled "A Major Milestone" was ready, CEO Richard Teng was set to fly to Athens for a photo op with the prime minister, and the local representative was already preparing to sign the office lease agreement. In early June, Greece notified ESMA of its intention to issue the license. The next day, the regulator's vice-chairman informed Binance about Lagarde's intervention. Without the prime minister's backing, it was impossible to move forward, and a week later, the exchange was told that the license would not be granted. The application was withdrawn in mid-June, even before a formal rejection was issued. There were two main reasons behind this decision. First, Binance's compliance history: in 2023, Binance pleaded guilty in the U.S. to violations related to anti-money laundering regulations and paid a $4.3 billion fine. Second, the protection of the digital euro. Lagarde worried that the arrival of the largest exchange would strengthen the dominance of dollar-based stablecoins in Europe, given that nearly all trading on Binance is conducted in dollar-denominated assets. Formally, the ECB has nothing to do with issuing MiCA licenses - it's the responsibility of national regulators. The Greek commission stated that it evaluated the application independently, while the government denies any involvement. In the end, Binance failed to obtain the license by the June 30 deadline and, starting July 1, suspended most services for EU residents, retaining only the ability to withdraw funds. Competitors - including Coinbase, Kraken, and OKX - had already secured their licenses. At the time, CZ wrote: "It's sad to see the EU cutting off its users from the world's best liquidity." Top 100 growth leaders in the last 24 hours: ARB, NEAR, UNI, APT, RAY, JUP, PONS. 17 Sep, 2026 byDropsTab Join Its Socials

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