What updates are there in the NEAR code base?

NEAR Protocol’s latest updates focus on making the network faster, easier to use across different blockchains, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

1. NEAR AI Cloud Launch (Dec 3, 2025) – Introduced private AI agents and cloud services for developers.
2. Halving Upgrade (Oct 30, 2025) – Cut the annual token inflation rate from 5% to 2.5%.
3. Ledger Wallet Integration (Nov 30, 2025) – Added easy, one-click cross-chain swaps through Ledger Wallet using NEAR Intents.

Deep Dive

1. NEAR AI Cloud Launch (Dec 3, 2025)

What happened: NEAR introduced new AI Cloud and Private Chat features that let developers build AI-powered applications directly on the blockchain. These AI agents are privacy-focused and run on NEAR’s fast, low-cost network (about $0.01 per transaction and over 10,000 transactions per second).

Why it matters: This update makes NEAR a leader in combining blockchain with AI, attracting developers who want secure, scalable AI tools without sacrificing privacy. (Source)

2. Halving Upgrade (Oct 30, 2025)

What happened: NEAR cut its yearly token inflation in half, lowering it from 5% to 2.5%. This means fewer new tokens are created each year. Validators and those who stake NEAR tokens will earn higher rewards per token, encouraging them to keep the network secure.

Why it matters: Lower inflation can help stabilize NEAR’s price by reducing the number of tokens sold on the market. However, validators will need to adjust to earning rewards on fewer new tokens. Overall, this is a positive step for long-term sustainability. (Source)

3. Ledger Wallet Integration (Nov 30, 2025)

What happened: NEAR Intents are now built into Ledger Wallet, which has over 7.5 million users. This allows users to swap tokens across more than 120 blockchains with just one click, without complicated bridging processes. For example, you can trade Litecoin or Monad directly. Within a week, daily swap volume through Ledger topped $21 million.

Why it matters: This makes decentralized finance (DeFi) much easier to use across multiple blockchains, which could lead to more people using NEAR and increase transaction fees on the network. (Source)

Conclusion

NEAR Protocol’s recent updates show a clear focus on AI integration, sustainable token economics, and seamless cross-chain functionality. By cutting inflation and partnering with major tools like Ledger Wallet, NEAR is positioning itself as a strong platform for scalable Web3 applications. The big question is whether these improvements will encourage developers to switch from other Layer 1 blockchains like Solana.

What is expected in the development of NEAR?

NEAR Protocol is making important progress with these key updates:

1. Dynamic Sharding Expansion (2026) – Increasing the number of shards to over 100, adjusting automatically based on network demand.
2. AI Agent Infrastructure (Q1 2026) – Launching new tools for developers to build privacy-focused AI applications.
3. NEAR Intents Global Rollout (2026) – Expanding cross-chain swaps to 20+ blockchains, making it easier to move assets between networks.

Deep Dive

1. Dynamic Sharding Expansion (2026)

Overview: NEAR plans to grow its sharding system beyond the current 9 shards to a flexible setup that changes the number of shards depending on how much the network is being used. This follows a successful test in December 2025 where NEAR reached 1 million transactions per second (TPS) using 70 shards (source).
What this means: This is great news for NEAR’s ability to handle more users and apps, especially big, complex ones. However, it also means more technical challenges and the need for validators (network participants) to coordinate well.

2. AI Agent Infrastructure (Q1 2026)

Overview: Building on the launch of NEAR AI Cloud in December 2025, NEAR will provide developers with tools to create AI agents that respect user privacy. Collaborations like the one with Allora Network will add smart features like predictive intelligence to these agents.
What this means: This could set NEAR apart by combining blockchain with AI, attracting developers interested in Web3 innovation. Success depends on how many developers adopt these tools. Competitors like Fetch.ai are also working in this space.

3. NEAR Intents Global Rollout (2026)

Overview: After processing $7 billion in cross-chain transactions in 2025 (source), NEAR Intents will expand to include blockchains like Litecoin and Monad, aiming for over 20 total integrations. The goal is to simplify blockchain interactions for users.
What this means: This expansion should boost liquidity (ease of trading) and attract more users, including institutions like Bitwise with their staking products. Still, market ups and downs could affect growth.

Conclusion

NEAR’s roadmap focuses on three main areas: scaling the network with sharding, integrating AI tools, and making cross-chain transactions easier. These are key to its vision of becoming a "blockchain for AI." While the price was around $1.75 in December 2025, reflecting overall market trends, these upcoming developments could spark renewed interest. It will be interesting to see how NEAR’s sharding improvements influence competition among Layer 1 blockchains in 2026.

What could affect the price of NEAR?

NEAR Protocol is at a crucial point where technical signals and ecosystem growth are sending mixed messages.

1. Network Activity vs. Price Gap – Usage is growing fast, but the price hasn’t caught up yet, which might lead to a rebound.
2. New AI Tools – Launches like Private Chat could attract more developers to the platform.
3. Scalability Milestone – NEAR’s testnet hit 1 million transactions per second (TPS), showing strong potential for handling large-scale use.

Deep Dive

1. Technical Signals vs. Market Pressure (Mixed Outlook)

NEAR’s price is currently about 73% below its highest point in 2024, but it’s holding steady in the $1.60 to $1.70 range. This price range is important because it’s where many investors are accumulating NEAR tokens. The 20-day moving average (a common technical indicator) sits at $1.76 and acts as a resistance level. If NEAR’s price moves above this and stays there, it could trigger a short-term price jump toward $2.20. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which measures if an asset is overbought or oversold, is at 41.88—meaning NEAR isn’t oversold yet.

In simpler terms, while some experts like Michael van de Poppe see potential for price growth, NEAR still needs to climb about 15% to break through key resistance levels. If it fails, the price could drop back to around $1.59, which would be a new low for 2025.

2. Growth in AI Products (Positive Outlook)

In December, NEAR introduced new AI-related products like NEAR AI Cloud and TravAI, an AI-powered travel platform. These products aim to bring over 100 million users through partnerships with browsers like Brave. NEAR Intents, a system that processes cross-chain transactions, has handled over $7 billion in swaps. AI agents are now able to automate transactions using a technology called Chain Signatures.

This growing use of AI could increase network fees, which reached $3.6 million in October. However, NEAR’s current market value of $2.14 billion already reflects expectations for growth. Despite the new products, the price has dropped 39% in the last month, showing that there are still risks in execution.

3. Reduced Inflation & Validator Rewards (Positive Outlook)

In October, NEAR cut its annual inflation rate from 5% to 2.5%. Additionally, the House of Stake governance system now allocates about 53.9 million NEAR tokens (worth roughly $90 million) to reward validators who help secure the network.

Lower inflation means fewer new tokens are created, which can reduce selling pressure and help stabilize prices. The staking reward rate dropped from 9.5% to 4.75%, which might slow down new token supply. However, institutional interest remains low, with only $19 million in assets under management in Bitwise’s Staking ETP, indicating that big investors haven’t fully jumped in yet. More details can be found at Bitwise’s Staking ETP.

Conclusion

NEAR’s future price depends on whether growing AI adoption and improvements in scalability can overcome current market challenges. The $1.60 to $1.70 price range is a critical support zone. Holding this range and breaking above the 20-day moving average could lead to a 30–50% price increase. On the other hand, falling below this support could result in a 25% price drop.

Key point to watch: Will the $10 million in monthly fees generated by NEAR Intents (across 120+ assets) be used for token buybacks or burns? This could help reduce supply and support the price.

What is the latest news about NEAR?

NEAR Protocol is at a critical technical point while making significant advances in AI infrastructure.

1. Key Support at $1.67 (December 10, 2025) – Buyers aim to reclaim the 20-Day Moving Average after network activity surpasses $7 billion in volume.
2. 1 Million Transactions Per Second (TPS) Milestone (December 8, 2025) – In testing, NEAR’s throughput beats Visa, though the live network still runs on 9 shards.
3. Launch of TravAI Travel Platform (December 5, 2025) – An AI-powered travel booking system goes live, using NEAR Intents to handle bookings across multiple blockchains.

In-Depth Look

1. Key Support at $1.67 (December 10, 2025)

Summary: NEAR’s price has dropped to its lowest point since October 2025, around $1.67, even though monthly network activity (intents) has grown significantly, exceeding $7 billion in volume and generating $11.68 million in fees. Experts see this price level as a strong support zone. Michaël van de Poppe, a market analyst, suggests that if NEAR’s price can stay above the 20-Day Moving Average (about $1.80), it could signal a positive trend reversal. The price has stabilized after a 39% drop over the past month, with high trading volumes in November indicating possible selling exhaustion.
What this means: The difference between growing network use and a low price creates a potential opportunity. If NEAR breaks above the 20-Day Moving Average, the price could rise to $1.95, the high from November. If it fails, the price might test the $1.60 support level again. (Crypto.News)

2. 1 Million Transactions Per Second (TPS) Milestone (December 8, 2025)

Summary: NEAR achieved a major technical milestone by processing 1 million transactions per second in a test environment on Google Cloud, using 70 shards. This performance far exceeds Visa’s average of 65,000 TPS. The test involved simple transfers without smart contracts and used hardware costing about $900 per month. The live NEAR network currently operates with 9 shards, and real-world transaction speeds are limited by the complexity of decentralized apps (dApps).
What this means: While this test result doesn’t immediately affect daily users, it shows NEAR’s potential to scale significantly. The development team plans to add shards gradually, focusing on network stability before increasing speed. Other blockchain projects like Aptos (160,000 TPS) and Solana (around 1,238 TPS in real-time) have different strengths and limitations. (Coinspeaker)

3. Launch of TravAI Travel Platform (December 5, 2025)

Summary: NEAR and ADI Chain introduced TravAI, an AI-powered travel booking platform that allows users to book trips using natural language commands. It supports payments across more than 20 blockchains through NEAR Intents. Supported by UAE-based Sirius International, TravAI targets both businesses and everyday travelers with fully automated travel plans.
What this means: This launch expands NEAR’s use of chain abstraction beyond decentralized finance (DeFi) into real-world applications like travel. The platform’s success will depend on adoption by existing travel clients and whether transaction fees paid in NEAR can be managed despite the token’s recent price weakness. (Coinspeaker)

Conclusion

NEAR Protocol is navigating a challenging price environment while growing its ecosystem through increased network activity and AI-driven projects. With daily swap volumes exceeding $67 million and institutional investors like OceanPal holding $133 million in NEAR tokens, the key question is whether practical use cases can overcome the current cautious market sentiment. Keep an eye on the 20-Day Moving Average and adoption of AI tools for signs of future momentum.

What are people saying about NEAR?

The NEAR Protocol (NEAR) community is divided between optimism about its technology and concerns about its recent price drops. Here’s what’s currently happening:

1. Traders are watching for a breakout above $3.50 after NEAR has struggled to move past this level.
2. New AI projects like Allora Network are improving developer interest.
3. Long-term supporters believe NEAR could reach $70+ by 2030, even though it has dropped about 73% over the past year.

Deep Dive

1. @cryptoking_nl: Testing Key Resistance Level

"$NEAR Update: Testing $3.50 again. A breakout here could lead to a quick price increase."
– @cryptoking_nl (6,859 followers · 664 posts · Sept 24, 2025)
View original post
What this means: If NEAR can stay above $3.50, it’s a positive sign since this level has stopped price gains twice before. If it fails, the price might fall back to around $1.60, which is a key support level.

2. @Nipherme: AI Integration Boosts Developer Interest

"Allora’s predictive AI is now part of NEAR’s Shade Agent infrastructure."
– @Nipherme (72,347 followers · Sept 16, 2025)
View original post
What this means: Adding AI features strengthens NEAR’s appeal to developers, especially since AI-focused blockchains have seen a 58% increase in value this year (CoinGecko).

3. Coinpedia: Price Predictions for 2030 Vary

"Price targets for 2030 range from $10 (conservative) to $70 (optimistic), but recent monthly drops of 39% raise doubts."
– Coinpedia (Nov 7, 2025)
View original analysis
What this means: The wide range of price forecasts shows uncertainty about NEAR’s ability to grow and profit from its 46 million users as of Q2 2025 (AMBCrypto).

Conclusion

The outlook for NEAR is mixed. People are optimistic about its technology, especially chain abstraction and AI, but cautious because the price has dropped 73% over the past year. Keep an eye on the upcoming vote by NEAR validators to reduce inflation to 2.5% (expected late Q3 2025). If approved, this could lower selling pressure. For traders, holding the $1.60 support level is crucial to avoid further price drops and forced sell-offs.

Why did the price of NEAR fall?

NEAR Protocol (NEAR) dropped 6.4% in the last 24 hours, underperforming the overall crypto market, which fell by 2.54%. The main reasons for this decline are:

1. Technical resistance at the 20-day moving average (MA) – NEAR tried but failed to break above this key price level, leading to selling pressure.
2. Market-wide cautious sentiment – Bitcoin’s dominance increased to 58.5%, drawing investment away from alternative cryptocurrencies like NEAR.
3. Mismatch between network activity and price – Although NEAR’s network usage surged, the price did not respond positively.

Deep Dive

1. Technical Breakdown (Negative Impact)

Overview: NEAR struggled to rise above its 20-day moving average, which is around $1.95. This level is important because it often acts as a barrier for price movement. Analysts, including Michaël van de Poppe, have pointed out this resistance. Currently, NEAR’s price is hovering near $1.68, close to lows last seen in October 2025.

What this means: The repeated failure to break above $1.95 suggests that buying interest is weak. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), a tool that measures momentum, is at 41.88, which is neutral and shows no signs of an immediate bounce from oversold conditions. Traders are watching for NEAR to close above $1.80 to signal a possible trend reversal.

What to watch: If NEAR falls below $1.65 and stays there, it could test the next support level at $1.59, based on Fibonacci retracement analysis.

2. Broader Crypto Market Challenges (Negative Impact)

Overview: Bitcoin’s market dominance rose to 58.5%, meaning more investment is flowing into Bitcoin and away from altcoins like NEAR. The Altcoin Season Index, which measures how well altcoins perform compared to Bitcoin, dropped 26% over the past week. This reflects a cautious mood in the market as the total crypto market cap fell by 2.54%.

What this means: NEAR’s price drop is part of a larger trend where investors prefer safer bets like Bitcoin. Open interest in derivatives (contracts based on crypto prices) decreased by 5%, and funding rates are neutral, indicating traders are not eager to hold altcoin positions.

3. Network Growth vs. Price Disconnect (Mixed Impact)

Overview: NEAR’s network activity is growing fast. It processed over $7 billion in cross-chain swaps, doubling month-over-month. However, despite this strong usage, NEAR’s price dropped 39% over the past month. This kind of disconnect has been seen before major sell-offs in crypto markets.

What this means: While increased network activity (like reaching the 1 million transactions per second testnet milestone) is a positive sign for NEAR’s long-term potential, short-term traders may see the lack of price gains as a reason to sell.

Conclusion

NEAR’s recent price drop is due to technical resistance, weakness in the altcoin market, and doubts about whether increased network use will translate into higher prices.

Key point to watch: Can NEAR hold its $1.65 support level ahead of its network upgrade scheduled for December 8? Or will Bitcoin’s growing dominance continue to pressure NEAR’s price? Keep an eye on the 20-day moving average and Bitcoin dominance trends for clues on where NEAR might head next.

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Which partner launched NEAR TravAI?

ADI Chain has introduced NEAR TravAI in collaboration with NEAR Protocol, confirming its role as the key partner behind the launch in a public announcement. ADI Chain announcement

1. ADI Chain describes TravAI as an AI-powered travel assistant that handles trip planning and booking from start to finish. ADI Chain announcement
2. News reports highlight the partnership between NEAR and ADI Chain for the launch, with the company Datrics managing the product. Media report
3. Payments are processed through NEAR’s AI-focused technology layer and finalized on ADI Chain’s Layer 2 (L2) network. ADI Chain announcement

Deep Dive

1. Launch Partner

ADI Chain is the official launch partner, announcing TravAI alongside NEAR Protocol.

• ADI Chain explains that it “has partnered with Near Protocol to power TravAI,” which is a full-service AI travel manager. ADI Chain announcement
  What this means: Instead of using traditional web-based backend systems, TravAI runs on ADI Chain’s Layer 2 infrastructure combined with NEAR’s AI technology stack.

2. Roles and Operators

Reports clarify that NEAR and ADI Chain teamed up for the launch, while Datrics is responsible for building and operating TravAI.

1. Media coverage credits the launch to the partnership between NEAR and ADI Chain. Media report
2. The same report identifies Datrics as the developer and day-to-day operator of the platform. Media report
   What this means: ADI Chain acts as the ecosystem partner behind the launch, while Datrics handles the ongoing management of the product.

3. How TravAI Works

TravAI processes payments using NEAR’s AI-native layer and settles transactions on ADI Chain’s Layer 2 network, enabling a smooth flow from trip planning to payment.

1. ADI Chain points out that NEAR Intents and settlement on its L2 network form the foundation for payments and verification. ADI Chain announcement
2. Media reports describe TravAI as an example of agentic commerce, automating travel itinerary creation and booking. Media report
   What this means: This setup uses automated agents with blockchain-based proof, reducing manual work for both users and businesses.

Conclusion

ADI Chain is the partner behind the NEAR TravAI launch, collaborating with NEAR Protocol to create an AI travel assistant that automates trip planning and payments. While Datrics manages daily operations, the platform leverages NEAR Intents and ADI Chain’s Layer 2 to deliver automated, verifiable travel bookings.