In 2024, NEAR achieved a remarkable year-over-year growth rate of 201.59%—outpacing Bitcoin’s 39.14% and Ethereum’s 94.16% during the same period. This explosive momentum has positioned NEAR as one of the most compelling blockchain ecosystems to watch. As Solana continues to solidify its mainstream status, NEAR is emerging as a strong contender with a bold vision: integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into decentralized infrastructure through its upcoming NEAR Intents protocol.
Announced for launch in 2025, NEAR Intents aims to revolutionize how transactions are processed on blockchain by replacing manual developer intervention with AI-driven execution. Alongside this, NEAR plans to develop the world’s largest open-source AI model—reportedly a 1.4 trillion-parameter system—further cementing its ambition to bridge Web3 and next-generation AI technologies.
This article explores the core innovations behind NEAR, what NEAR Intents truly means for developers and users, and whether it has what it takes to become the next major player in the blockchain space.
What Is NEAR Protocol?
Founded in 2017 by Alexander Skidanov, a former Microsoft engineer and ex-researcher at OpenAI, NEAR Protocol launched its mainnet in 2020. It is a third-generation, proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain designed for scalability, usability, and developer accessibility.
Unlike older blockchains like Bitcoin that rely on energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW), NEAR uses an efficient consensus mechanism that enables faster transaction processing—up to thousands of transactions per second (TPS). To scale further, NEAR implements sharding, a technique that splits network operations into parallel segments called "chunks," significantly increasing throughput without sacrificing security.
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For developers, NEAR offers comprehensive documentation and support for building smart contracts using widely adopted languages like JavaScript and Rust. This lowers the barrier to entry and accelerates development cycles. Additionally, developers can earn revenue from gas fees generated by their applications—a key incentive for ecosystem growth.
Sustainability and Social Impact
Beyond technology, NEAR emphasizes environmental responsibility. In 2021, the NEAR Foundation partnered with South Pole, a Zurich-based climate solutions provider, to conduct carbon footprint assessments and implement reforestation projects in Colombia, Zimbabwe, and the United States. These initiatives ensure NEAR’s operations remain carbon-neutral—a growing priority for eco-conscious users and institutional investors.
User-Friendly Design with Built-in Account Abstraction
One of NEAR’s standout features is its built-in account abstraction, enabled via the NEP-366 standard. This allows third-party relayers to perform actions on behalf of users—including paying gas fees—making onboarding seamless for newcomers who don’t yet hold cryptocurrency.
This means users can create accounts using familiar identifiers like email or Telegram usernames—and even claim human-readable .near domain names—without needing to purchase crypto first. It's a significant step toward mass adoption, removing two major friction points: wallet complexity and upfront costs.
Introducing NEAR Intents: The Future of DeFi Execution
At the heart of NEAR’s 2025 roadmap is NEAR Intents, a groundbreaking framework designed to solve one of DeFi’s biggest challenges: fragmented liquidity.
Today, executing complex financial operations across multiple blockchains often requires navigating numerous interfaces, managing slippage, and manually routing assets. NEAR Intents flips this model by allowing users to declare what outcome they want—such as “swap 1 ETH for the best yield-generating stablecoin across all chains”—without specifying how it should be done.
An AI-powered execution layer then fulfills that intent by sourcing liquidity, optimizing routes, and managing cross-chain settlements autonomously. Multiple protocols and relayers can compete to fulfill intents, creating a dynamic marketplace for transaction execution.
Why NEAR Intents Matter
- Seamless Cross-Chain Experience: Users interact with a unified interface while the backend handles interoperability.
- Increased Liquidity Utilization: By pooling demand across chains, NEAR reduces idle capital and improves market efficiency.
- Developer Flexibility: Teams can build intent-focused dApps without managing low-level transaction logic.
- AI-Driven Optimization: Machine learning models analyze historical data and real-time conditions to execute trades at optimal prices and timing.
This approach mirrors algorithmic trading in traditional finance—but applied natively to decentralized ecosystems. At Token 2049 in Singapore, NEAR Intents was a central talking point among builders and investors, signaling strong industry interest.
Core Keywords Driving NEAR’s Growth
To understand NEAR’s rising relevance, consider these core keywords that define its strategic positioning:
- NEAR Protocol
- NEAR Intents
- Blockchain AI integration
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
- Cross-chain liquidity
- Account abstraction
- Open-source AI model
- Scalable blockchain
These terms reflect both technical innovation and user-centric design—key factors in capturing developer mindshare and retail adoption alike.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes NEAR different from Solana?
A: While both aim for high performance, NEAR focuses more on developer ease-of-use, account abstraction, and long-term sustainability. Its upcoming NEAR Intents system also introduces AI-driven transaction execution—a feature not currently central to Solana’s roadmap.
Q: How does NEAR Intents use AI?
A: AI algorithms interpret user intents, evaluate multiple execution paths across chains and protocols, and select the most efficient route based on cost, speed, and risk—automating what developers currently do manually.
Q: Can I build dApps on NEAR without knowing Rust?
A: Yes. While Rust is supported for high-performance contracts, NEAR also supports JavaScript via its AssemblyScript SDK, making it accessible to web developers.
Q: Is NEAR eco-friendly?
A: Absolutely. As a proof-of-stake blockchain, NEAR consumes minimal energy. Combined with its carbon offset partnerships, it maintains a net-zero environmental impact.
Q: When will NEAR Intents launch?
A: The official rollout is planned for 2025, with testnet previews expected in late 2024.
Q: How does account abstraction benefit new users?
A: It removes the need to manage private keys or buy crypto upfront. Users can sign up with email or social logins and start using dApps immediately.
The Road Ahead: Can NEAR Surpass Solana?
While Solana has gained traction due to its speed and vibrant NFT and DeFi ecosystems, it has faced criticism over network outages and centralization concerns. NEAR offers a compelling alternative with robust sharding, built-in scalability, and a stronger focus on decentralization and usability.
With NEAR Intents, the protocol isn’t just improving existing systems—it’s reimagining how users interact with blockchain altogether. By leveraging AI to automate complex financial workflows, NEAR could unlock new levels of efficiency in DeFi.
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Moreover, the planned development of a massive open-source AI model could attract machine learning researchers and Web3 innovators looking for transparent, decentralized alternatives to proprietary systems like those from Google or Meta.
Final Thoughts
NEAR Protocol is more than just another high-speed blockchain—it’s building a next-generation infrastructure where AI and decentralization converge. From intuitive onboarding to intent-based transactions and sustainable operations, NEAR addresses critical pain points that have hindered broader crypto adoption.
As we move toward 2025, all eyes will be on the launch of NEAR Intents and its real-world impact on cross-chain liquidity and developer activity. If successful, NEAR may not just follow in Solana’s footsteps—it could leapfrog ahead.
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Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency investments are subject to high market risk. Prices can fluctuate significantly, and you may lose your entire principal. Please conduct thorough research and assess your risk tolerance before investing.