What is NEAR?
NEAR Protocol is a fast, scalable blockchain built to support AI-powered applications and user-owned AI agents. It offers high-speed transactions and easy interaction with other blockchains, making it a strong platform for decentralized apps (dApps) and AI services.
- AI-Focused Blockchain: Designed specifically to run AI agents and decentralized machine learning.
- Scalable Design: Uses a technology called sharding (Nightshade) to process many transactions quickly and cheaply.
- Cross-Chain Compatibility: Enables smooth asset swaps and communication across more than 20 different blockchains.
In-Depth Overview
1. What is NEAR Protocol?
NEAR Protocol aims to be the foundation for an "agentic internet," where AI agents—software that can act on behalf of users—are securely owned and operated on the blockchain. This means AI applications can run transparently and privately on NEAR, with real-world examples like Allora Network integrating predictive AI intelligence directly on the platform (source).
2. How Does NEAR Work?
NEAR uses Nightshade sharding, a method that breaks the blockchain into smaller parts (shards) that work in parallel. This allows NEAR to handle up to 100,000 transactions per second, with transaction finality in just 1.2 seconds—faster than many other blockchains like Ethereum and Solana. It also supports stateless validation, which helps developers build apps more easily, and is compatible with Ethereum wallets, making it accessible to a wider audience.
3. What Can You Do on NEAR?
NEAR supports a growing ecosystem of tools and projects, including:
- Cross-chain swaps through the NEAR Intents protocol, allowing users to exchange assets across 20+ blockchains seamlessly.
- Partnerships with decentralized storage providers like Shelby for secure data management.
- AI services such as NEAR AI Cloud, enabling developers to build AI-powered applications.
- DeFi projects like Rhea Finance that use NEAR’s multi-chain capabilities.
- Privacy-focused AI applications from partners like Brave and Phala Network (source).
Summary
NEAR Protocol combines AI-friendly infrastructure, fast and scalable transaction processing, and strong cross-chain support. This makes it a promising platform for the future of decentralized AI and multi-chain applications. Its focus on user-owned AI agents could change how blockchain technology supports the emerging economy of intelligent software agents.
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