Confidential Intents od NEAR Protocol překročil 60 milionů USD v TVL a chybí mu už jen 10 milionů USD ke spuštění prvního odměnového snapshotu (Drop 1) při hranici 70 milionů USD. Program [email protected] rozdělí 333 333 tokenů mezi oprávněné uživatele.
TVL Crosses $60M With $10M Left to GoNEAR Protocol's (@NEARProtocol) Confidential Intents has crossed $60 million in total value locked, leaving the protocol just $10 million short of the threshold that will trigger its first major reward event. When aggregate TVL reaches $70 million, the Drop 1 snapshot for [email protected] will be taken, locking in allocations for eligible participants.
The milestone matters because the [email protected] program distributes a fixed pool of 333,333 milestone tokens to qualifying Confidential Intents users. To be eligible for Drop 1, participants must hold a confidential balance above $100 and have completed at least one confidential swap before the TVL threshold is reached.
How the [email protected] Program [email protected] is a milestone incentive program tied directly to Confidential Intents activity on near(.)com. The tokens issued are non-transferable at first. Conversion to NEAR on a 1:1 basis only occurs if NEAR's volume-weighted average price (VWAP) holds at or above $3.33 for three consecutive days, meaning two separate on-chain conditions must be met before any tokens change hands.
Allocation is not simply a function of deposit size. It is scored by sustained confidential balance weighted by time held, plus ongoing swap activity. Earlier participation carries greater weight in the calculation, so users who have been active on Confidential Intents since before the snapshot carries an advantage over those who enter late. No single wallet can receive more than 2 percent of Drop 1, equivalent to roughly 6,666 tokens, so large last-minute deposits offer limited additional benefit.
Confidential Intents itself is NEAR's private execution layer for cross-chain swaps, running inside a private shard connected to mainnet via a trusted execution environment (TEE) bridge. The architecture is designed to shield transaction amounts and counterparties from being visible on-chain until settlement, protecting users from MEV and frontrunning rather than providing full anonymity.
With TVL having climbed from roughly $26 million in mid-June 2026 to over $60 million by early September, the protocol is approaching the $70 million milestone at a steady pace. More drops are planned after Drop 1, with conditions calibrated to higher levels of community activity.
Sources:
Crypto Briefing: NEAR's Confidential Intents TVL surpasses $26M as private execution expands
Nansen: NEAR Protocol Q2 2026 Report
Coinfomania: Confidential Intents Hits $60M in TVL
NEAR umožňuje validátorům ověřovat bloky bez ukládání celého stavu sítě, což výrazně snižuje hardwarové nároky. U top 100 validátorů stačí zhruba 48 GB paměti, ostatním 8 až 16 GB.
On most blockchains, validators carry a heavy load. To check that a block is valid, they must maintain a full, up-to-date copy of the chain's state, meaning every account, balance, and contract stored on the network. As a chain grows, so does that burden, gradually raising the cost of running a node and pushing out smaller participants.
@NEARProtocol takes a different approach. Each block on NEAR carries a state witness: a compact cryptographic proof containing only the data required to validate that specific block. A validator can check work on a shard without ever storing that shard's full state.
How Stateless Validation Works in PracticeThe practical result is a sharp reduction in hardware requirements. NEAR's top 100 validators, which both produce blocks and track a shard, operate on roughly 48GB of memory. Those below that threshold run a lighter checking role on just 8 to 16GB.
Stateless validation arrived with Nightshade 2.0, which went live on NEAR mainnet in August 2024. According to The Defiant, the upgrade was designed to speed up transaction execution by 400% and increase the network's shard capacity.
What Has Changed Since, and What Comes NextThe protocol has not stood still since Nightshade 2.0. The v2.13 upgrade landed on mainnet on July 20, 2026, adding two significant capabilities. First, dynamic resharding: the network can now automatically split shards when they reach a capacity threshold, without requiring a validator vote or a manual protocol upgrade. Second, post-quantum signing: NEAR activated the FIPS-204 standard using the ML-DSA-65 parameter set.
It is important to note that the migration is opt-in. Ed25519 and secp256k1 signing remain in place, and users can rotate their keys to ML-DSA-65 through a single on-chain transaction via the NEAR CLI, with no need to move assets or change account addresses. The reason NEAR kept the switch voluntary is a practical one: ML-DSA keys and signatures are substantially larger than elliptic-curve equivalents, which raises storage and processing demands. NEAR's official press release described the deployment as placing it among the first major Layer-1 blockchains to ship a NIST-approved quantum-resistant signature scheme in a live production environment.
Looking further ahead, SPICE (Separation of Consensus and Execution) is the next major upgrade on the roadmap toward Nightshade 3.0, which is already in progress. SPICE decouples the process of validators agreeing on block order from the execution of transactions inside those blocks, targeting block times of 200ms and sub-half-second finality.
Together, these upgrades form a coherent technical arc: reduce validator storage requirements, automate capacity scaling, harden cryptographic security, and compress latency, each layer building on the last.
Sources:
NEAR Protocol: Nightshade 2.0 Launches on NEAR Mainnet
PR Newswire: NEAR Protocol Brings Quantum-Safe Signing to Mainnet
eGamers: NEAR Goes Live With Post-Quantum Signatures On Mainnet Via 2.13 Release
NEAR Protocol na mainnetu aktivoval postkvantové podepisování 20. července 2026 a stal se jedním z prvních velkých blockchainů s produkčním kvantově odolným schématem. Uživatelé mohou jednou on-chain transakcí přepnout klíče bez migrace aktiv.
NEAR Protocol activated post-quantum signing support on its mainnet on July 20, 2026, making it one of the first major blockchain networks to ship a production-ready quantum-resistant signature scheme. The feature, delivered through network upgrade 2.13, implements the NIST-standard ML-DSA-65 lattice-based signature scheme, formally known as FIPS-204.
That standard was finalized by NIST in August 2024 under its original working name, CRYSTALS-Dilithium. It’s designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, which could eventually break the elliptic-curve cryptography that secures virtually every blockchain in existence today.
What the upgrade actually does The practical upshot is straightforward: NEAR users can now rotate their account keys to a quantum-resistant scheme with a single on-chain transaction. No asset migration required. No new wallet address needed.
This is possible because of NEAR’s account model, which was designed for cryptographic flexibility when the mainnet launched in 2020. The architecture supports multiple signature schemes on the same account, so the upgrade doesn’t force anyone’s hand. Users can voluntarily switch while the existing Ed25519 and secp256k1 schemes remain fully supported.
Advertisement
On the wallet side, Meteor Wallet already has live integration with the new signing feature. Ledger and other wallet providers are reportedly in the process of adding support, though no firm timelines have been announced.
Why this matters beyond NEAR’s native chain The upgrade doesn’t just protect NEAR-native assets. Through Chain Signatures and NEAR Intents, the post-quantum security extends to assets from over 30 other blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various stablecoins.
Chain Signatures allow NEAR accounts to sign transactions on other networks without bridging assets. NEAR Intents enable cross-chain operations through a declarative framework. Both of these systems now inherit the quantum-resistant properties of the new signing scheme, at least on the NEAR side of the equation.
The quantum threat, in context The concern isn’t just about future attacks. It’s about a strategy called “harvest now, decrypt later,” where adversaries collect encrypted data today with the expectation of cracking it once quantum hardware matures. For blockchain, this means that public keys exposed on-chain right now could theoretically be used to derive private keys in the future.
NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin and Near One CTO Anton Astafiev have both emphasized the importance of proactive measures given the pace of quantum computing advances. Their framing connects the quantum-resistance work to NEAR’s broader vision around multi-chain infrastructure and what they describe as an emerging “agent economy,” where autonomous AI agents transact on-chain.
What comes next In a roadmap published on August 24, 2026, NEAR outlined its next milestones. The team is working on efficiency improvements for post-quantum signatures, which are notably larger than their classical counterparts. ML-DSA-65 signatures clock in at around 3,300 bytes compared to 64 bytes for Ed25519.
The bigger target is securing NEAR’s consensus mechanism with post-quantum cryptography by the end of 2027. Right now, the upgrade protects user-facing key management, but the validators securing the network still rely on classical signature schemes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
NEAR Protocol spolu s Responsible Fintech Institute a Safeheron testuje na kvantově odolném testnetu MPC protokol s podpisy ML-DSA-65 založenými na mřížkách. Pilot zapojil banky Bison Bank a DK Bank i Abu Dhabi Global Market a Malta Financial Services Authority.
Quantum computing is still mostly a theoretical threat to financial infrastructure, but the institutions that move slowly on cryptographic upgrades tend to be the ones scrambling later. NEAR Protocol, alongside the Responsible Fintech Institute and technology firm Safeheron, is not waiting around.
On August 23, 2026, the Responsible Fintech Institute convened a cross-regional pilot consortium explicitly designed to stress-test post-quantum cryptography in live institutional digital asset workflows. The group ran wallet generation and on-chain transfer simulations on NEAR’s quantum-resistant testnet, using a multi-party computation protocol built on the NIST FIPS 204 ML-DSA-65 lattice-based digital signature standard.
What the pilot actually involves Multi-party computation, in plain terms, means no single party ever holds a complete private key. The consortium is testing a non-custodial 2-of-2 MPC design, meaning both parties must participate in every signing event, and neither can act unilaterally.
The lattice-based signature scheme at the center of this is ML-DSA-65, one of the standards NIST finalized as part of its post-quantum cryptography project. NEAR explicitly selected the lattice-based approach over hash-based alternatives, a deliberate architectural choice.
Advertisement
Safeheron is leading development of both the MPC protocol itself and the ML-DSA-65 signing application. The consortium has committed to open-sourcing that code after the testing phase, along with publishing a whitepaper covering pilot findings.
NEAR first signaled its post-quantum direction in May 2026, selecting ML-DSA as its initial quantum-safe signature scheme. The August pilot represents the next step in that roadmap, moving from protocol-level design decisions to actual consortium testing with real financial institutions in the loop.
Who is at the table The participant list matters as much as the technology. Bison Bank and DK Bank are among the banking institutions involved. On the regulatory side, the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Malta Financial Services Authority are participating, which gives the pilot a notable cross-jurisdictional character.
The timing also aligns with broader regulatory momentum. Singapore and Hong Kong have both been pushing forward frameworks around fintech innovation and quantum preparedness. The RFI consortium appears designed to generate cross-jurisdictional data that regulators in multiple markets can reference when setting their own standards.
Why quantum threats to crypto are not a distant problem Most public-key cryptography in use today, including the signature schemes underpinning the majority of blockchain networks, relies on mathematical problems that classical computers find intractable. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm could theoretically break those assumptions.
NIST’s finalization of post-quantum standards, including the ML-DSA standard at the center of this pilot, reflects an institutional consensus that preparation needs to happen ahead of the threat materializing.
For the banks and regulators participating in this consortium, the practical question is not whether to eventually adopt quantum-resistant cryptography. It is whether they can develop operational experience with it before they are required to use it. A pilot that generates real data on wallet generation latency, signing performance, and cross-jurisdictional operational workflows is meaningfully more useful than a theoretical framework document.
The open-source commitment from Safeheron adds another layer to this dynamic. If the MPC protocol and signing application are released publicly, other networks and custodians can adopt or adapt them, potentially accelerating industry-wide post-quantum readiness.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
NEAR zveřejnil roadmapu k postkvantové ochraně a míří ke konsenzu validátorů odolnému vůči kvantovým útokům do konce roku 2027. Jde o jednu z nejzásadnějších aktualizací protokolu od spuštění mainnetu.
A step-by-step push toward quantum resistance@NEARProtocol has published a post-quantum roadmap targeting quantum-resistant validator consensus by late 2027. Developer Near One describes the change as one of the most fundamental protocol upgrades since mainnet launched, though the team notes timelines are directional and subject to research outcomes.
The roadmap follows a concrete first step.
ML-DSA, also known as the Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm, is the post-quantum digital signature standard published by NIST in FIPS 204 in August 2024, based on the CRYSTALS-Dilithium algorithm. It is designed to replace RSA and ECDSA signatures as the industry migrates away from classical cryptography.
Consensus and cross-chain MPC remain the harder problemsDespite progress at the account level, Near One is candid about what remains. Today's post-quantum schemes are still too computationally heavy for use in validator consensus, which is why the 2027 goal exists as a research and engineering target rather than a committed release date. The team has also acknowledged that quantum-safe threshold signing for its MPC network has no candidate solution yet.
The cross-chain layer adds further complexity. NEAR's Chain Signatures network currently links assets across 30+ chains, per the team's own roadmap post. On wallet support,
NEAR is not alone in this effort.
Sources:
NEAR Protocol Brings Quantum-Safe Signing to Mainnet (PR Newswire)
NEAR Protocol Becomes First Major Blockchain With Live Quantum-Safe Account Signing (TechTimes)
Ethereum Post-Quantum Roadmap (ethereum.org)
NEAR Intents Hits $25B in Cumulative Volume$NEARProtocol's NEAR Intents platform has crossed $25 billion in cumulative transaction volume, underscoring rapid adoption of its intent-based cross-chain execution layer. The milestone marks a sharp acceleration in growth: NEAR Intents reached $5 billion in November 2025, doubled to $10 billion by January 2026, and has continued to compound since. According to Crypto Briefing, the platform was adding roughly $1 billion in volume per week at certain points earlier this year, reflecting sustained demand for bridgeless cross-chain execution.
The architecture at the centre of this growth is an intent-driven model where competing solvers bid to fulfil user requests. Users specify a desired outcome, such as swapping USDC on Ethereum for another asset on a different chain, while third-party solvers handle execution behind the scenes. The result is a seamless experience that abstracts away the complexity of multi-chain infrastructure.
Chain Signatures and Confidential Execution Drive AdoptionA core technical enabler is Chain Signatures, NEAR's decentralised multi-party computation (MPC) framework. The technology allows NEAR smart contracts to sign and settle transactions natively on external chains, including $BTC and $ETH, without relying on bridges or destination contracts that introduce counterparty risk. A signed Bitcoin transaction, for example, can be broadcast directly to the Bitcoin mainnet with no wrapped asset or bridge involved. The protocol currently supports transactions across 30 blockchains.
Privacy is also emerging as a material driver. According to @BSCNews, 69% of all trades on the platform now use private execution, helping users avoid front-running and MEV extraction. This aligns with a broader industry trend toward confidential transaction layers in DeFi. Nansen's Q2 2026 NEAR report noted that confidential Intents TVL had crossed $30 million, pointing to growing institutional and retail appetite for private on-chain settlement.
The volume figures place NEAR Intents among the more consequential cross-chain infrastructure plays in the current cycle, with its bridgeless settlement model and privacy features setting it apart from traditional bridge-based competitors.
Sources
Crypto Briefing: NEAR Intents surpasses $20B in all-time transaction volume
Nansen: NEAR Protocol Q2 2026 Report
NEAR Protocol: Chain Signatures Launch Blog
@NEARProtocol has handed verification of its confidential AI workloads to @intel's Trust Authority, shifting the chain of trust away from the platform operator and anchoring it directly at the chipmaker level.
What Changed and Why It Matters NEAR AI Cloud has run on Intel and NVIDIA confidential computing hardware since December 2025. What is new is who validates the proofs. Every workload now returns an Intel-signed attestation token confirming that the job ran inside sealed, tamper-resistant hardware. @NEARProtocol operates the service, but @intel independently checks it, meaning users no longer have to take the operator's word for it.
That distinction is significant. Intel Trust Authority decouples the roles: Intel itself is the appraiser, the host is only the host, and the relying party receives a token signed by an independent third party with no operational stake in the workload. This resolves a long-standing weakness in confidential computing deployments, where infrastructure providers have historically relied on self-attestation.
Intel Trust Authority is a zero-trust attestation service that helps verify apps, data, and workloads are running in trusted environments. It validates infrastructure, applications, and AI workloads using Intel confidential computing Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) on CPUs and GPUs.
How NEAR AI Cloud Works NEAR AI Cloud delivers private inference in three steps: a user's prompt is encrypted locally and transmitted to a Confidential Virtual Machine (CVM) inside a TEE; processing occurs inside a Trusted Execution Environment that prevents external access, including from NEAR itself; and inside the enclave, the model decrypts the input, performs inference, and re-encrypts the result before returning it.
By running models in TEEs with cryptographic attestation, the platform creates an auditable chain of trust. Organizations can verify not just that their data was encrypted in transit, but that it remained encrypted during processing and that the model executing the inference was the one they expected.
The integration is live now. For enterprises handling sensitive data, the move addresses a core concern: one misconfiguration or insider action can break traditional software-level trust signals instantly, which is why the AI industry needs verifiable privacy, not unsupported promises.
Sources:
NEAR AI: Introducing NEAR AI Cloud and Private Chat
Intel: Intel Trust Authority Overview
Crypto Briefing: NEAR AI Builds Infrastructure for Private AI Model Execution
Spoluzakladatel NEAR Protocol Illia Polosukhin navrhl Sovereign Fund se 30 miliony $NEAR, který by financoval validátory, poskytovatele zabezpečení a veřejné statky. Pokud model uspěje, NEAR může přejít na fixní nabídku tokenů.
NEAR Protocol co-founder Illia Polosukhin has put forward a proposal to establish a Sovereign Fund seeded with 30 million $NEAR tokens, in what would mark a significant shift in how the network funds its core operations and incentivises participants.
The fund is designed to generate yield, which would then be distributed to validators, security providers, and public goods projects. If the model proves sustainable, it could pave the way for NEAR to eventually adopt a fixed token supply, ending the current inflationary issuance model.
A Break From Inflation-Driven RewardsThe proposal reflects a broader push within the NEAR ecosystem to rethink its tokenomics. Polosukhin has publicly dismissed community proposals to burn tokens held by the NEAR Foundation, arguing that simple token burns have historically failed to deliver meaningful benefits to markets or network ecosystems. Instead, he advocates for a fixed maximum supply model similar to Bitcoin's, which would cap total $NEAR tokens and move away from the current inflationary approach to rewarding validators.
This is not the first time the network has moved in this direction. On October 30, 2025, NEAR's inflation rate was cut from 5% to 2.5% annually, roughly halving new token issuance from around 64 million to 32 million $NEAR per year, with the long-term effect of reducing sell pressure from validator rewards. Then, on February 23, 2026, the NEAR Intents fee conversion mechanism activated, routing 100% of Intents fees into open-market $NEAR purchases.
Community Input Before Any VoteThe Sovereign Fund proposal remains in its early stages. The plan is open for community feedback before any formal governance vote takes place, and it also aims to improve treasury transparency through on-chain governance mechanisms.
The community will ultimately determine whether the Sovereign Fund advances to a formal vote. The move away from short-term mechanisms in favour of a fixed supply model represents a meaningful departure from conventional tokenomics, and signals a focus on sustainability that could influence how other blockchain networks approach supply management.
Sources:
CryptoNews: Near Protocol Co-Founder Rejects Token Burn Proposal, Advocates Fixed Supply Model
ChangeNow: NEAR Protocol Overview in 2026
NEAR Foundation: Supporting Community Proposals to Upgrade NEAR Tokenomics
NEAR Intents překročil v celkovém objemu transakcí 24 miliard dolarů a už zpracoval přes 25 milionů swapů. Současně NEAR spustil upgrade mainnetu 2.13 s quantum-safe podpisy a dynamickým reshardingem.
Intents Volume Hits $24 BillionNEAR Protocol says its Intents cross-chain execution layer has surpassed $24 billion in all-time transaction volume, according to the project's latest monthly development recap. The milestone reflects a sharp acceleration in adoption: the platform had only just crossed $20 billion in early June 2026, having reached $10 billion in January and $5 billion as recently as November 2025.
The growth rate has been notable. The first $5 billion took roughly 305 days, while more recent increments have arrived far faster. The platform has now processed over 25 million swaps and connects assets across dozens of chains. $NEAR Intents uses an intent-driven model in which competing solvers bid to fulfill user requests, handling cross-chain execution, atomic swaps, and bridging without requiring users to manage individual transactions manually.
Protocol 2.13 and a Broader Development PushAlongside the volume update, NEAR Protocol shipped its 2.13 mainnet upgrade on July 20. The release adds quantum-safe signing through the NIST-approved FIPS-204 (ML-DSA) scheme, making NEAR one of the first layer-1 blockchains to deploy a post-quantum signature standard in a live production environment. Dynamic resharding also went live with this upgrade, allowing the network to split shards automatically as demand grows, without requiring validator votes or manual intervention.
The monthly recap covered several additional developments. NEAR Protocol launched staking for AI compute, expanding the protocol's push into AI infrastructure. Confidential Intents, which enables private execution of transactions, was made generally available. The team also published a public roadmap and expanded cross-chain integrations, extending the reach of NEAR's chain abstraction stack.
The protocol's fee mechanics add a tokenomic dimension to the volume growth. 100% of NEAR Intents fees are used to purchase $NEAR directly on the open market, creating buy pressure that scales with transaction volume as the network approaches a deflationary threshold.
Sources:
PR Newswire: NEAR Protocol Brings Quantum-Safe Signing to Mainnet
Crypto Briefing: NEAR Intents Surpasses $20B in All-Time Transaction Volume
CryptoTimes: NEAR Launches Quantum-Safe Mainnet Upgrade With Resharding
NEAR Protocol spustil nový AI staking, který mění stakované NEAR na compute credits pro placení AI služeb. Uživatelé tak tokeny neutrácejí a po unstaku je dostanou zpět v plné výši. Systém navíc poskytuje přístup ke 43 modelům na NEAR AI od různých poskytovatelů, včetně OpenAI, Anthropic a Googlu.
NEAR Protocol has rolled out a new staking mechanism for its AI platform, letting users stake NEAR tokens to access AI compute services rather than spending tokens outright. The feature marks a notable step in the protocol's push to position itself as core infrastructure for onchain AI activity.
How the Staking Mechanism Works Under the new system, staked NEAR tokens are converted into compute credits that can be used to pay for AI services. Crucially, users do not lose their tokens in the process. Once they are done, they can unstake and receive their NEAR back in full. All payments are settled onchain, keeping the process transparent and verifiable.
The feature provides users with compute credits to access 43 models on NEAR AI across several providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The breadth of model coverage signals that NEAR is targeting a wide range of AI use cases rather than locking users into a narrow set of tools.
Part of a Broader AI Infrastructure Push The AI staking launch fits into a wider strategic shift at NEAR. NEAR rolled out a suite of AI-focused products in 2026, including automatic PII anonymization for AI prompts, meaning that when an AI agent processes a user's request, personally identifiable information gets scrubbed before it ever touches inference infrastructure.
The protocol has also been expanding its privacy tooling. NEAR AI launched IronClaw, an open-source and verifiable AI agent runtime built in Rust and deployed inside an encrypted Trusted Execution Environment on NEAR AI Cloud, designed to enable autonomous agents with built-in privacy safeguards and controlled access to user assets and data.
NEAR's co-founder Illia Polosukhin has characterized the protocol as fundamental infrastructure for handling AI-driven commerce and execution. The new AI staking feature reinforces that thesis by creating a direct, token-based economic link between NEAR holders and AI compute demand. Tying AI access to a staking model rather than a direct spend model could encourage longer-term token lock-up while still giving users full utility from their holdings.
The move comes as competition in the onchain AI space intensifies, with protocols racing to offer credible, privacy-preserving alternatives to centralised AI providers.
Sources:
Crypto Briefing: NEAR Protocol targets AI-driven commerce with new products and tokenomics improvements
CoinDesk: Near Protocol to automate its own growth
NEAR Protocol aktivoval na mainnetu kvantově bezpečné podepisování v rámci upgradu 2.13. Patří tak mezi první Layer-1 blockchainy s NIST-schváleným postkvantovým podpisovým schématem v produkci.
NEAR Protocol Deploys NIST-Approved Post-Quantum SigningNEAR Protocol has activated quantum-safe signing on mainnet as part of network upgrade 2.13, making it one of the first Layer-1 blockchains to ship a NIST-approved post-quantum signature scheme in a live production environment. The upgrade adds quantum-safe signing through the NIST-approved FIPS-204 (ML-DSA) scheme alongside dynamic resharding, a scalability enhancement that enables the protocol to automatically scale as network demand grows.
The team chose FIPS-204 (ML-DSA, formerly known as CRYSTALS-Dilithium), a lattice-based digital signature algorithm formally standardized by NIST in August 2024 as part of the agency's first batch of post-quantum cryptography standards. The upgrade allows account holders to migrate to post-quantum cryptography through a single on-chain transaction without transferring assets or changing account addresses.
The urgency behind the move is hard to ignore. Google's Quantum AI team has published research on the risk to cryptocurrency directly, with an estimated $470 billion of Bitcoin at risk. A U.S. executive order issued in June 2026 also requires federal agencies to transition high-value systems to post-quantum cryptography by the end of the decade, with digital signature migration scheduled for completion by 2031.
Automatic Resharding Removes a Key BottleneckThe second major component of the 2.13 upgrade addresses scalability. NEAR's sharded architecture previously scaled horizontally by adding shards, but each addition required a full protocol upgrade involving weeks of validator coordination, a vote, and a staged rollout. Dynamic resharding now enables the network to automatically scale by splitting shards without validator votes or manual upgrades.
On blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum, addresses are derived from keypairs tied to breakable cryptography, so migrating to a new signing scheme means migrating the address itself. NEAR accounts are decoupled from cryptography: since mainnet launched in 2020, NEAR has used human-readable account IDs controlled through rotatable access keys, not bound to a single keypair. This architectural choice is what makes the migration comparatively straightforward for NEAR users.
NEAR is also actively working with hardware and software wallet builders, including Ledger, on bringing post-quantum support to the market.
Sources:
NEAR Protocol Official Press Release via PR Newswire
Crypto Times: NEAR Launches Quantum-Safe Mainnet Upgrade With Resharding
CoinTrust: NEAR Activates Quantum-Resistant Security
NEAR se blíží deflačnímu prahu: poplatky z Intents už rostou rychleji než nová emise tokenů a 100 % těchto poplatků jde na nákupy tokenu $NEAR. K prahu je ale ještě potřeba zhruba zdvojnásobit denní objem Intents, který je nyní kolem 77 milionů USD denně; deflační hranice leží přibližně na 177 milionech USD denně.
@NEARProtocol says its token buyback program is accelerating, with Intents fees increasingly outpacing new issuance. The mechanism is straightforward: 100% of fees generated through NEAR Intents are used to purchase $NEAR directly on the open market, creating buy pressure that scales with transaction volume. Cumulative Intents volume has now passed $22 billion, and the capture rate has climbed from roughly 12% over its lifetime to near 30% in the past week alone.
Two Structural Changes Set the Stage Two protocol upgrades have made the deflation thesis credible. On October 30, 2025, NEAR's inflation rate was permanently reduced from 5% to 2.5%, cutting annual issuance roughly in half and compressing the volume required to reach net deflation by the same amount. Then on February 23, 2026, the fee conversion mechanism activated for the first time, routing all NEAR Intents fees into $NEAR purchases.
NEAR issues approximately 32.2 million tokens annually. Two mechanisms work against that issuance: base-layer gas fees follow a 70/30 split, with 70% permanently burned by the protocol, while Intents fees go entirely toward open-market buybacks. Halved inflation plus active buybacks via the Intents fee switch create a structurally different supply-demand dynamic than what existed a year ago.
The Threshold Is Real, but Not Yet Crossed At current prices and the 2026 channel-mix-weighted fee rate, the deflationary threshold sits at approximately $177 million in daily Intents volume. The current 90-day average sits at $77 million per day, meaning volume needs to roughly double to cross the deflationary threshold.
The math is not static. As NEAR's price rises, each token purchased via the Intents fee mechanism absorbs more dollar-denominated issuance, meaning price appreciation actively lowers the barrier to deflation in token terms. On an Intents-adjusted basis, NEAR's price-to-sales ratio is approximately 28x, versus Ethereum at 194x and Solana at 40x. That gap has drawn attention from analysts who argue the token is structurally underpriced relative to its fee generation.
The trajectory is real. Whether daily Intents volume can double from here, and hold there, is the question that will determine whether the deflation story moves from thesis to fact.
Sources:
Crypto Briefing: NEAR Protocol targets AI-driven commerce with new products and tokenomics improvements
NEAR Foundation: Supporting Community Proposals to Upgrade NEAR Tokenomics
SVRN: NEAR Protocol 2026: Investment Case, Tokenomics and Deflation Threshold
Správa NEAR Protocol schválila zrušení 30% gas rebate pro vývojáře; po upgradu nearcore v2.14 budou všechny způsobilé poplatky za execution fee spalovány. Podle Illii Polosukhina jde o krok k lepší dlouhodobé ekonomice NEAR.
NEAR Protocol just rewrote its economic rulebook. The protocol’s on-chain governance body, House of Stake, passed proposal HSP-027 between June 20 and 27, 2026, voting to eliminate the developer gas rebate entirely. Starting with a nearcore upgrade expected around August 2026, every eligible execution fee on the network will be burned rather than partially returned to smart-contract owners.
NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin confirmed the vote’s outcome, endorsing the shift toward full fee burns as a step in the right direction for the NEAR token’s long-term economics.
What was the rebate, and why kill it now? The 30% developer gas rebate let smart-contract owners reclaim a slice of the gas fees their contracts generated. The average rebate per contract fell from roughly 27.6 NEAR in June 2025 to just 1 to 5 NEAR per month by 2026.
Advertisement
Proposal HSP-027, authored by NEAR One’s Anton Astafiev, made the case that the rebate had diluted to the point of irrelevance. No significant dissent was recorded during the discussion period.
The implementation timeline is tied to the nearcore v2.14 upgrade, currently scheduled for around August 2026. Until that upgrade ships, the existing rebate mechanics remain in place.
The deflationary mechanics behind the vote Under the old model, 30% of eligible execution fees were recycled back to contract developers. Under the new model, those same fees get burned, permanently removing NEAR from circulation.
What this means for developers and investors For developers currently building on NEAR, if your dApp was accounting for gas rebates as any part of its revenue model, that line item disappears when nearcore v2.14 ships. For most projects, 1 to 5 NEAR per month was barely worth the accounting overhead. The governance proposal acknowledged this, with the community framing the change as a push toward more sustainable business models.
HSP-027 passed without significant opposition. Watch the August nearcore v2.14 upgrade closely, as the on-chain burn data in the weeks following implementation will be the first real-world test of how much additional supply pressure the rebate removal generates.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
NEAR Protocol v upgradu 2.13 přidal kvantově bezpečné podpisy podle FIPS 204 a tato změna je pro uživatele transparentní. Ripple mezitím spustil vícefázový plán, aby byl XRP Ledger připraven na postkvantovou éru do roku 2028.
Multiple networks move at onceIn the span of just two weeks, three major blockchain projects have taken concrete steps toward quantum-resistant infrastructure. @trondao deployed post-quantum signatures on testnet, @NEARProtocol shipped quantum security as part of its 2.13 upgrade, and the $XRP Ledger continued advancing a structured, multi-phase post-quantum roadmap. The moves reflect a broader shift across the industry: networks are no longer waiting for a cryptographic emergency to begin hardening their systems.
NEAR Protocol's upgrade 2.13 adds FIPS-204, a NIST-approved signature scheme built to withstand quantum attacks. NEAR's account model, controlled by rotatable access keys, enables a seamless rotation to quantum-safe signing. The protocol-level upgrade is designed to be transparent to users, meaning NEAR token holders and decentralized application users need take no action.
On the $XRP side, Ripple has introduced a multi-phase roadmap to prepare the XRP Ledger for a post-quantum future, with a target for full readiness by 2028. The approach involves active testing of quantum-resistant cryptography and a hybrid rollout that runs alongside existing systems, with Ripple working alongside Project Eleven to accelerate development including validator testing and early custody prototypes. The roadmap also includes a contingency plan to enable a secure migration to quantum-safe accounts if current standards are compromised before the 2028 target.
Why the urgency now The push responds in part to research from Google Quantum AI suggesting that quantum computers could crack current blockchain cryptography with fewer resources and on a faster timeline than previously estimated, with some scenarios placing a credible threat window as early as 2032. If future quantum computers became capable of breaking current encryption standards, cryptocurrency wallets and blockchain infrastructure could face serious vulnerabilities, and although experts continue debating the timeline, many believe preparation must begin years before such systems become commercially viable.
Zcash's Tachyon upgrade is also targeting quantum readiness, according to CoinDesk Research, adding another major protocol to a list that is growing quickly. The broader crypto industry is grappling with the same problem at different speeds. Algorand integrated post-quantum state proofs as far back as 2022, while Bitcoin's debate remains largely at the discussion stage given the complexity of coordinating protocol changes across a decentralized network with no central team. The pattern is clear: projects with more centralized coordination are moving fastest, while the more decentralized networks face a longer road.
The industry's posture has shifted from reactive to proactive. Waiting for Q-Day, the theoretical moment when quantum computers can break current public-key cryptography, is no longer considered an acceptable strategy for infrastructure built to last decades.
Sources
Ripple: Post-Quantum Readiness on the XRP Ledger
CoinDesk: Ripple wants the XRP Ledger to be quantum-proof by 2028
CryptoWisser: NEAR Protocol Upgrade 2.13 is Live on Testnet
Bitwise upravil 2. dodatek k podání S-1 pro spotový NEAR ETF u SEC a přidal staking, přičemž jako burzu pro listing zvolil NYSE Arca. Schválení zatím čeká.
Crypto asset manager Bitwise has updated its filing for the proposed NEAR ETF, advancing progress after almost a year. The issuer revealed key details related to staking, listing exchange, listing plans, custodians and others. NEAR price has jumped almost 12% amid the latest crypto market recovery.
Bitwise NEAR ETF Updates Filing with the US SEC Bitwise submitted a 2nd amendment to the S-1 form for its spot NEAR ETF, according to the latest filing with the US SEC. It added staking as a second objective to derive additional income for investors, along with providing regulated exposure to NEAR held by the trust.
Bitwise NEAR ETF also named NYSE Arca as the selected exchange for listing and trading the spot ETF. The issuer has not yet revealed management fees, ticker, or potential fee waiver.
Moreover, The Bank of New York Mellon is selected as cash custodian, administrator, and transfer agent. Coinbase Custody to serve as crypto custodian.
Bitwise Asset Management, parent of Bitwise Investment Advisers, plans to provide seed capital to launch the NEAR ETF. The issuer currently awaits approval from the US SEC.
The amendment refines disclosures around risks, including staking-related tax events, redemption liquidity, and market volatility.
As CoinGape reported earlier, Grayscale also amended its NEAR ETF filing with the US SEC. This came amid institutional interest in artificial intelligence (AI) amid the blockbuster SpaceX IPO frenzy.
Will Price Rally Further? NEAR Protocol price rebounded 5% amid the latest crypto market recovery. The price is currently trading at $2.03, with a 24-hour low and high of $1.90 and $2.04, respectively.
Furthermore, trading volume has increased by 6% over the last 24 hours, indicating a rise in interest among traders. However, the price is trading below the 50-day moving average. Notably, Kalshi also launched NEAR perpetual futures recently amid massive interest from investors.
CoinGlass data showed massive buying in the derivatives market in the last few hours. The total NEAR Protocol futures open interest jumped more than 13% to $472 million in the last 24 hours. The 4-hour futures OI on Binance, OKX, and Bybit climbed more than 6%, 5%, 5.50% respectively.
If you’re looking to earn passive income with crypto, check out our 8 proven ways to earn passive income in July 2026.
NEAR Protocol nasadil na testnetu upgrade 2.13 s postkvantovými přístupovými klíči a dynamickým reshardingem. Mainnet přijde po auditech a koordinaci s komunitou.
NEAR Protocol Deploys Upgrade 2.13 on TestnetNEAR Protocol ($NEAR) has deployed upgrade 2.13 on testnet, introducing two significant technical changes: post-quantum safe access keys and dynamic resharding. The release marks a concrete step in NEAR's push to future-proof its cryptographic infrastructure ahead of mainnet deployment.
At the core of the security update is the adoption of FIPS 204, also known as ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm). The Near One team chose FIPS-204, a lattice-based digital signature algorithm formally standardized by NIST in August 2024 as part of the agency's first batch of post-quantum cryptography standards. ML-DSA was formerly known as CRYSTALS-Dilithium and is designed to be secure against attacks from a cryptographically relevant quantum computer.
NEAR's rotatable access keys are designed to let users shift to quantum-safe signing without changing their account addresses. The upgrade also includes compact key storage and improved epoch sync, reducing overhead for node operators and validators.
Dynamic Resharding Removes Need for Governance VotesDynamic resharding means the network can automatically add or remove shards based on demand, rather than operating with a fixed shard count. This removes the need for governance upgrades each time the network needs to scale, allowing $NEAR's infrastructure to respond to load in real time.
The move positions NEAR as an early Layer-1 adopter of post-quantum cryptography, a security-focused protocol update likely to bolster adoption and confidence in the NEAR ecosystem. Mainnet deployment will follow after security audits and coordination with the NEAR community.
The broader context is one of growing urgency. Anton Astafiev, CTO at Near One, warned that the blockchain industry can no longer treat the quantum threat as a distant problem. The upgrade addresses the emerging threat quantum computers pose to current cryptographic standards such as Ed25519 and secp256k1, allowing users to rotate their keys to a quantum-resistant standard in a single transaction.
Sources:
Crypto Times: NEAR Plans Post-Quantum Safe Signing for Q2 2026 Testnet
NIST: First 3 Finalized Post-Quantum Encryption Standards
CoinDesk: Near Protocol to Automate Its Own Growth
Kalshi přidala perpetual futures pro Zcash, NEAR Protocol, Dogecoin a Shiba Inu, čímž rozšířila nabídku kryptoměn na 13 aktiv. Produkty jsou nabízené v regulovaném rámci CFTC, bez expirace.
Kalshi has added perpetual futures contracts for Zcash ($ZEC), NEAR Protocol ($NEAR), Dogecoin ($DOGE), and Shiba Inu ($SHIB) to its platform, the latest step in a rapid expansion of the prediction market operator's regulated derivatives business.
Four New Contracts, 13 Crypto Assets Total The additions bring the total number of supported crypto assets to 13, alongside Bitcoin and other altcoins. Zcash perpetuals are offered with up to 2x leverage, while NEAR contracts allow leverage of up to 2.6x. Shiba Inu's perpetual contract, listed under the ticker KSHIB, also carries a maximum leverage ratio of 2x.
The contracts trade under Kalshi's American Perpetuals label, a product line that never expires and instead settles through periodic funding payments between traders. The contracts are available through a structure approved by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and do not carry expiration dates.
Kalshi opened its perpetuals push in late May with Bitcoin, the first such contract ever cleared for trading on a U.S. venue. Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Hyperliquid followed through June under the same regulated framework. Kalshi is the first company in U.S. history to offer regulated perpetual futures to American traders.
Some Contracts Still Awaiting CFTC Sign-Off Kalshi has already secured approval for most of its filed products, though contracts linked to Stellar, Polkadot, and Hedera remain under review by the CFTC. Because such products may vary significantly depending on the assets they reference, the Commission took the view that a voluntary, case-by-case review process under Regulation 40.3 is the appropriate route for listing perpetual contracts, rather than self-certification.
The approvals came despite CME Group's lawsuit against the U.S. CFTC and its chairman, alleging that these contracts are swaps. The SEC and CFTC are also requesting public comments to clarify and harmonize definitions of derivatives products, especially swaps.
Last year, crypto exchanges processed $86 trillion in perpetual futures volume, according to data from CoinGecko. The bulk of that activity has historically taken place on offshore platforms, making Kalshi's regulated onshore offering a notable structural shift for U.S. traders.
Sources:
crypto.news: Kalshi launches Zcash and SHIB perps as lawsuit heats up
CFTC: Order for Approval of Kalshi BTCPERP Contract
CoinDesk: U.S. CFTC opens crypto perp door with approval of first regulated firm
NEAR Protocol spadl téměř o 17 % poté, co Arthur Hayes oznámil úplný exit z NEAR a HYPE. Open interest na futures klesl o více než 21 % na 543 milionů USD.
Key Takeaways NEAR Protocol experienced a sharp 17% decline following Arthur Hayes’ announcement that he liquidated his complete NEAR and Hyperliquid (HYPE) positions. The BitMEX co-founder pointed to escalating energy costs related to Iran conflict, anticipated AI company public offerings before Q3, and unfavorable macro timing. Blockchain analytics verified Hayes disposed of 247,334 HYPE tokens valued at approximately $18 million, while his NEAR sale quantity remains unconfirmed. Open interest in NEAR futures contracts plummeted over 21% to $543 million, indicating traders are unwinding positions instead of establishing new ones. Critical support zone for NEAR Protocol exists at $2.00–$2.01, with secondary support around $1.73 should the primary level fail. NEAR Protocol experienced a devastating selloff of nearly 17% on June 4, 2026, marking it as among the day’s most significant losers in the cryptocurrency market. The dramatic price collapse was primarily attributed to Arthur Hayes, the BitMEX co-founder, publicly disclosing his decision to liquidate all his NEAR and Hyperliquid holdings.
NEAR Price Hayes made his strategic withdrawal public, outlining three primary catalysts: escalating energy prices connected to ongoing Iran military operations, three major artificial intelligence corporations planning initial public offerings ahead of early Q3, and concerns that President Donald Trump might adopt an antagonistic stance toward AI technology. He indicated a comprehensive analysis would appear in his upcoming essay titled “Reality Test,” scheduled for release the subsequent Tuesday.
Blockchain monitoring platform Lookonchain verified that Hayes liquidated 247,334 HYPE tokens, generating approximately $18.02 million in proceeds. While the precise volume of NEAR tokens sold remained undisclosed, the mere public acknowledgment of the transaction significantly undermined market confidence in the asset.
Hayes had earlier expressed bullish sentiment, projecting HYPE could climb to $150. His abrupt reversal toward a defensive posture follows an extended bull run. In response to community inquiries, he noted, “I’ll be back,” indicating the withdrawal represents a strategic repositioning rather than a complete abandonment of the asset.
I just dumped my entire $HYPE and $NEAR position, I will explain why in my essay "Reality Test" dropping next Tuesday.
TLDR:
– Higher energy prices due to Iran war and inventory restocking
– 3 Mega AI IPOs between now and early Q3
– Prediction that Trump goes anti-AI to win…
— Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) June 4, 2026
Futures Market Signals Growing Caution NEAR futures trading activity surged past $2.8 billion during the selloff day, yet open interest simultaneously contracted by more than 21% to approximately $543 million. This divergence — elevated trading volume paired with declining open interest — characteristically indicates traders are liquidating leveraged positions rather than initiating fresh trades.
This market behavior reflects a broader flight to safety across the cryptocurrency derivatives landscape, extending beyond just Hayes-related selling pressure.
Technically, NEAR Protocol had already shown weakness prior to the announcement. The token encountered strong resistance within the $3.00–$3.10 zone before reversing lower. It subsequently breached key short-term moving averages, placing bullish traders in a vulnerable position.
Critical Price Support Under Test At press time, NEAR was changing hands around $2.05, representing approximately a 12.8% decline. The $2.00–$2.01 zone has emerged as the critical battleground for near-term price action.
Source: TradingView Should this support level prove resilient, a technical rebound toward $2.20–$2.30 becomes feasible. Any meaningful recovery would necessitate reclaiming the $2.55 threshold.
Conversely, a breakdown below $2.00 would likely trigger a test of support near $1.73, with an additional consolidation zone stretching between $1.45 and $1.65.
NEAR currently trades beneath its short-term momentum indicators, with the $2.00 threshold serving as the decisive near-term support benchmark.
Unstoppable Wallet dokončila integraci NEAR Intents napříč aplikací, webem i Telegramem. Nové 1-Click Swap API umožňuje rychlé crosschain swapy s ochranou soukromí na úrovni DEX bez KYC.
TLDR: Unstoppable Wallet completed NEAR Intents integration across app, web, and Telegram swap tools. 1Click Swap API now enables crosschain execution with near-instant settlement and routing options. Integration adds DEX-level privacy with no KYC and no metadata tracking across swap transactions ecosystem. Users can choose tradeoffs between speed, cost, and liquidity routes within Unstoppable Wallet integration layer. NEAR Protocol integration with Unstoppable Wallet expands crosschain swap capabilities via NEAR Intents. Unstoppable Wallet has completed integration of Intents 1Click Swap API across app, Telegram bot, and web interface.
The rollout enables faster crosschain swaps with privacy features and access to decentralized liquidity routing. The update extends NEAR Intents as a universal liquidity layer across multiple user-facing swap environments.
NEAR Protocol Intents Integration Expands Across Unstoppable Wallet Platforms Unstoppable has completed the integration and testing phase of NEAR Intents across its wallet ecosystem.
The rollout now spans all Unstoppable products, embedding swap infrastructure directly into its core user environments and expanding functionality across multiple access points.
The 1Click Swap API now runs across the Unstoppable mobile application, Telegram bot, and web interface. This integration standardizes crosschain execution flows and allows users to initiate swaps from different entry points without changing platforms or relying on external routing tools.
The system introduces a privacy-focused structure with no KYC requirements and no metadata tracking inside the integration layer. Transactions execute near instantly, positioning the experience closer to centralized exchange speed while still relying on decentralized routing infrastructure powered by NEAR Intents.
According to Unstoppable, the setup improves access to a wider asset range across multiple chains. It also provides competitive pricing in many stable swap scenarios.
The routing system operates alongside existing pathways, giving users multiple execution options within a single interface.
Unstoppable now completes its NEAR Intents @near_intents integration and testing phase and now includes in all Unstoppable products.
WHY THIS IMPORTANT?
This gives you DEX-level privacy with centralized exchange speed.
Plus, in many cases NEAR able to provide the most… pic.twitter.com/l2OlF9UmZb
— Unstoppable | Privacy Wallet (@unstoppablebyhs) June 8, 2026
Crosschain Liquidity Layer Drives Broader Swap Accessibility The integration extends NEAR Intents’ universal liquidity layer to a broader user base across several interfaces. This allows users to access crosschain swaps without relying on centralized exchange environments or fragmented third-party routing systems.
NEAR Intents operates as a liquidity aggregation and routing framework across decentralized markets. It builds execution paths that pull liquidity from different sources, helping optimize swap outcomes depending on real-time market conditions.
Unstoppable Wallet users retain full control over execution preferences during swaps. They can select between different tradeoffs, including speed, cost efficiency, and routing complexity, depending on the asset pair and market environment.
The development teams also confirmed additional NEAR-related integrations are in progress. While full details remain undisclosed, Unstoppable indicated that further expansion of the integration pipeline is already underway.
NEAR Protocol spustil incentivní airdrop pro Confidential Intents; snapshot proběhne, jakmile TVL dosáhne 70 milionů USD. První vlna rozdělí 333 333 milestone tokenů, které jsou uzamčené a po splnění podmínky VWAP 3,33 USD nebo vyšší po dobu tří po sobě jdoucích dnů se změní na NEAR v poměru 1:1.
On June 11, NEAR Protocol officially launched its [email protected] Incentive Milestone Plan, targeting users who use the protocol’s cross-chain private transaction execution tool, Confidential Intents, via their website. To date, no tokens have been added to users’ accounts under this initiative. Once Confidential Intents’ total value locked (TVL) hits $70 million, the system will take a snapshot and distribute milestone tokens to eligible accounts. Past user activity counts toward their allocation quota and will stay updated until the snapshot condition is fulfilled—meaning new users who join now and ramp up their activity can still secure a larger allocation share. Drop 1 of the plan will roll out 333,333 milestone tokens. These tokens are locked rewards and are initially non-transferable and non-sellable. Once NEAR’s volume-weighted average price (VWAP) holds steady at $3.33 or higher for three consecutive days, the milestone tokens will convert to NEAR at a 1:1 ratio. Key eligibility rules apply: Each wallet is limited to a maximum of 2% of this round’s total airdrop pool. To qualify for the snapshot, users must maintain a confidential balance of over $100 in any asset on near.com and complete at least one confidential swap. Holdings and activity above this threshold will impact their final allocation amount. Future airdrop rounds and additional milestones are planned, with each round’s conditions tied to higher levels of community engagement.
Relevant content
Micron Technology surges 18% in pre-market trading on US stocks
According to Bitget market data, the US stock storage sector is seeing broad pre-market gains. Micron Technology (MU.O) jumps 18% in pre-market trading, as its strong earnings significantly exceeded expectations, with multiple major banks raising the stock’s target price. SanDisk (SNDK) rises 12.25%, Western Digital (WDC) gains 12.05%, and Seagate Technology (STX) climbs 8.63%.
1 minutes ago
SBI announced it will acquire cryptocurrency trading platform Bitbank for 46.7 billion yen.
According to Nikkei News, Japanese financial group SBI Holdings announced on the 25th that it will acquire cryptocurrency exchange platform bitbank for 46.7 billion yen (approximately $288 million). Upon completion of the transaction, SBI Group’s crypto asset custody scale is expected to exceed 1 trillion yen, making it one of the largest operators in Japan’s crypto industry. Per the plan, a subsidiary under SBI Holdings will acquire Bitbank shares from individual shareholders including its founders as early as August this year. Bitbank will then repurchase shares held by existing shareholders MIXI and Ceres by the end of October. If combining data from SBI’s own crypto exchange SBI VC Trade and Bitbank, as of April this year, the two firms had a total of around 2.92 million accounts and total custody assets of approximately 1.1 trillion yen. While different crypto exchanges disclose custody assets at varying time points, among Japan’s major industry competitors, bitFlyer held about 960 billion yen in custody assets as of the end of December 2025, and Coincheck had around 800 billion yen as of the end of March 2025.
1 minutes ago
US Secretary of State: Will not accept the claim that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to any country.
US Secretary of State Rubio stated, "We will not accept the assertion that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to any country." (Jinshi)
1 minutes ago
Iraqi government spokesperson: Efforts are underway to restore full oil export capacity.
A spokesperson for the Iraqi government stated that Iraq is working to restore its full oil export capacity and plans to increase its oil production to 7 million barrels per day in the coming years. (Jinshi)
1 minutes ago
Bithumb was fined for sharing user data overseas without consent.
South Korean regulatory authorities have ordered cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb to pay a 210 million won (approximately $136,000) fine for sharing user personal information with overseas platforms without user consent. According to an announcement released Thursday by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the relevant user data exposure occurred between September and November 2025. At that time, Bithumb transferred user information to overseas platforms while sharing its USDT market order book data. The PIPC also noted that when assisting users with asset transfers to 13 overseas exchanges, Bithumb failed to obtain full and sufficient user consent before sharing personal details including names, wallet addresses, and dates of birth. For the two violations, the PIPC not only imposed the fine but also ordered Bithumb to rectify its processes and management systems related to cross-border transmission of user information.
1 minutes ago
Analyst: SK Hynix’s US listing and fund-raising could trigger a valuation re-rating.
According to Bloomberg, SK Hynix is set to issue American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the Nasdaq on July 10. The listing aims to raise nearly $30 billion, making it one of the largest ADR issuances in history. Market participants widely believe the move will significantly expand its global investor base and may drive a valuation re-rating. Multiple asset management firms project that if its valuation converges with Micron Technology’s, its share price could rise by 30% over the next year. One fund manager noted that SK Hynix should trade at a valuation at least on par with Micron, as demand for memory chips is likely to outpace supply for years to come. The listing comes amid an unusually strong boom in the memory chip sector. Shares of Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung Electronics have all surged over 200% this year, marking their best annual performance in decades. Demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) from AI servers is widely seen as the driver of a structural "memory supercycle".
Grayscale podala upravený S-1 pro spotové NEAR ETF. V dokumentu změnila hlavního správce na BitGo Bank & Trust N.A. a uvedla, že staking bude nabízet jen pokud to dovolí zákon.
Grayscale Investments has submitted a revised S-1 filing for its proposed spot NEAR ETF, which tracks the prominent AI coin. This move coincides as investor interest grows amid the blockbuster SpaceX IPO frenzy.
Inside Grayscale’s Amended NEAR ETF Filing Grayscale submitted the revised registration statement on filed Friday, June 12 as Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1. It comes on the heels of the BNB coin ETF amendment.
Moreover, it follows the trust’s earlier registration statement filed in January. It adds the SEC Registration No. 333-292834 to the filing, which was missing in the previous submission.
Custody arrangements marked one of the biggest differences. The initial application lists Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC as the sole custodian.
The updated version includes a replacement for Coinbase Custody as the primary custodian with BitGo Bank & Trust N.A. in its place. However, Coinbase Custody will remain as an additional custodian for the Grayscale NEAR ETF.
The asset manager also beefed up the terminology around staking activities. The revised filing makes a clear statement that they will only offer exposure to NEAR staking yield via the ETF only if the US law permits it. It confirmed that neither the trust, sponsor nor the custodians are currently staking NEAR tokens.
With this filing, Grayscale eyes to expand its altcoin ETF line. Recently, it launched the Hyperliquid staking ETF in June.
Meanwhile, the statistics of the NEAR Protocol ecosystem were also updated. The modified filing reveals circulating supply grew to 1.3 billion NEAR tokens as of March 31, 2026, and the market capitalization dropped to $1.5 billion. Also, the filing disclosed that the token’s market ranking has dropped from No. 39 to No. 43.
Of particular note, the amendment also provides for the addition of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP attorney Dylan H. Lojac as legal counsel. It also included formatting changes for compliance purposes related to the new checkbox for the emerging growth company election.
The SpaceX IPO Factor The filing comes after crypto narratives related to artificial intelligence are resurfacing, sparked by Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s successful IPO launch. It spurred a surge of interest in aerospace AI-related stocks and digital assets and next-generation technology narratives.
Over the past few months, NEAR has been trying to establish itself as a blockchain that is focused on decentralized AI applications and autonomous agent infrastructure. Now, it is attracting renewed investor interest.
Confidential Intents na NEAR Protocol překročil 26 milionů USD v TVL. Téměř polovina objemu na hlavní obchodní platformě $NEAR už běží přes privátní intents.
Private Transactions Gain Ground on NEAR ProtocolNEAR Protocol's Confidential Intents has crossed $26 million in total value locked, according to data cited by Delphi Digital, as the protocol's privacy layer draws growing adoption across the DeFi ecosystem. Nearly half of all volume on $NEAR's primary trading venue is now routed through private intents, a figure that underlines how quickly the feature has moved from novelty to core infrastructure.
Confidential Intents is built directly into the NEAR Intents cross-chain execution system. Users can toggle between a standard account and a confidential account, opting into privacy across transfers, deposits, and withdrawals while maintaining verifiable on-chain execution. Transaction details including sender addresses, amounts, and routing paths are processed inside a dedicated private shard connected to NEAR's mainnet via a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) bridge, keeping them hidden from public block explorers during execution.
Cross-Chain Reach and the MEV ProblemThe protocol currently supports private transactions across more than 35 blockchains. NEAR Protocol's launch materials described the interface as connecting those chains through a single account, enabling cross-chain swaps, peer-to-peer settlement, and optional confidential flows without manual bridging or routing.
The core problem Confidential Intents addresses is well established in DeFi: public ledgers expose pending transactions to front-runners and MEV bots, which can see order size, timing, and routing before execution and act accordingly. By processing transaction details inside a private shard, the feature removes that visibility window, eliminating MEV extraction, frontrunning, and forced liquidations from visible positions.
The $26 million TVL milestone arrives as NEAR Intents continues to expand its reach. Prior to its recent Brave Wallet integration, NEAR Intents had already executed over 19 million swaps and more than $14 billion in all-time cross-chain volume across 35 blockchains. The Brave Wallet integration, available as of browser version 1.88, brings NEAR Intents to 110 million Brave browser users and makes it the first swap provider in Brave Wallet to unify virtually all of the wallet's supported blockchains, including Bitcoin, Solana, Zcash, Cardano, and EVM-compatible networks.
Sources:
PR Newswire: NEAR Unveils Confidential Cross-Chain Infrastructure
Global Fintech Series: NEAR Intents Expands to Brave Wallet
Brave: Brave Wallet Now Supports NEAR Intents
NEAR představil SPICE, hlavní upgrade směrem k Nightshade 3.0, který má zkrátit čas bloku z 600 ms na 200 ms. Zrychlí i finální potvrzení transakcí a podpoří složitější transakce.
June 22, NEAR officially announced its next major protocol upgrade: the SPICE (Separation of Consensus and Execution) proposal, a critical milestone toward Nightshade 3.0. Once fully rolled out, NEAR will cut its block time from 600 milliseconds to 200 milliseconds — a roughly 3x speed improvement, approaching the upper speed limit allowed by physical constraints. At the heart of SPICE is the decoupling of the consensus layer from the execution layer. This lets validators finalize block consensus without waiting for transaction execution, reducing latency and enabling support for more complex, time-intensive transactions. NEAR noted this upgrade will be the largest underlying architecture overhaul since Stateless Validation launched in 2024. Post-implementation, transaction experiences for apps like NEAR Intents and near.com will see notable improvements. Alex Shevchenko, CEO of Defuse Labs, added that NEAR’s final confirmation time is expected to drop to roughly 0.4 seconds — faster than Visa’s standard ~3 seconds — bringing the network’s payment experience close to “instantaneous.” NEAR also highlighted that faster block times are foundational to the AI Agent economy, enabling high-speed payments and complex transactions between autonomous agents, plus the ability to run longer tasks across multiple blocks. Additionally, SPICE will clear the path for Nightshade 3.0, laying the groundwork for future cross-shard atomic execution. The NEAR development team explained this will help mitigate development complexity and potential security vulnerabilities stemming from asynchronous network environments, boosting both the network’s scalability and security.
Relevant content
Micron Technology surges 18% in pre-market trading on US stocks
According to Bitget market data, the US stock storage sector is seeing broad pre-market gains. Micron Technology (MU.O) jumps 18% in pre-market trading, as its strong earnings significantly exceeded expectations, with multiple major banks raising the stock’s target price. SanDisk (SNDK) rises 12.25%, Western Digital (WDC) gains 12.05%, and Seagate Technology (STX) climbs 8.63%.
1 seconds ago
SBI announced it will acquire cryptocurrency trading platform Bitbank for 46.7 billion yen.
According to Nikkei News, Japanese financial group SBI Holdings announced on the 25th that it will acquire cryptocurrency exchange platform bitbank for 46.7 billion yen (approximately $288 million). Upon completion of the transaction, SBI Group’s crypto asset custody scale is expected to exceed 1 trillion yen, making it one of the largest operators in Japan’s crypto industry. Per the plan, a subsidiary under SBI Holdings will acquire Bitbank shares from individual shareholders including its founders as early as August this year. Bitbank will then repurchase shares held by existing shareholders MIXI and Ceres by the end of October. If combining data from SBI’s own crypto exchange SBI VC Trade and Bitbank, as of April this year, the two firms had a total of around 2.92 million accounts and total custody assets of approximately 1.1 trillion yen. While different crypto exchanges disclose custody assets at varying time points, among Japan’s major industry competitors, bitFlyer held about 960 billion yen in custody assets as of the end of December 2025, and Coincheck had around 800 billion yen as of the end of March 2025.
1 seconds ago
US Secretary of State: Will not accept the claim that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to any country.
US Secretary of State Rubio stated, "We will not accept the assertion that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to any country." (Jinshi)
1 seconds ago
Iraqi government spokesperson: Efforts are underway to restore full oil export capacity.
A spokesperson for the Iraqi government stated that Iraq is working to restore its full oil export capacity and plans to increase its oil production to 7 million barrels per day in the coming years. (Jinshi)
1 seconds ago
Bithumb was fined for sharing user data overseas without consent.
South Korean regulatory authorities have ordered cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb to pay a 210 million won (approximately $136,000) fine for sharing user personal information with overseas platforms without user consent. According to an announcement released Thursday by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the relevant user data exposure occurred between September and November 2025. At that time, Bithumb transferred user information to overseas platforms while sharing its USDT market order book data. The PIPC also noted that when assisting users with asset transfers to 13 overseas exchanges, Bithumb failed to obtain full and sufficient user consent before sharing personal details including names, wallet addresses, and dates of birth. For the two violations, the PIPC not only imposed the fine but also ordered Bithumb to rectify its processes and management systems related to cross-border transmission of user information.
1 seconds ago
Analyst: SK Hynix’s US listing and fund-raising could trigger a valuation re-rating.
According to Bloomberg, SK Hynix is set to issue American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the Nasdaq on July 10. The listing aims to raise nearly $30 billion, making it one of the largest ADR issuances in history. Market participants widely believe the move will significantly expand its global investor base and may drive a valuation re-rating. Multiple asset management firms project that if its valuation converges with Micron Technology’s, its share price could rise by 30% over the next year. One fund manager noted that SK Hynix should trade at a valuation at least on par with Micron, as demand for memory chips is likely to outpace supply for years to come. The listing comes amid an unusually strong boom in the memory chip sector. Shares of Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung Electronics have all surged over 200% this year, marking their best annual performance in decades. Demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) from AI servers is widely seen as the driver of a structural "memory supercycle".
