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
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 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.
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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.
How Chain Signatures Work@NEARProtocol's Chain Signatures feature allows a single NEAR account, including smart contracts, to sign and execute transactions on external blockchains without relying on traditional bridges or separate contract deployments. The mechanism is built on a decentralised multi-party computation (MPC) network: rather than any single machine holding a private key, the key is distributed across multiple independent nodes. Each node produces a fragment, and those fragments combine to form one valid joint signature. No individual node ever has access to the complete signing key, which removes the concentrated custodial risk that has made conventional cross-chain bridges a repeated target for exploits.
Each target blockchain gets its own address, derived deterministically from the NEAR account plus a path string. Transaction requests are routed through a signer contract that takes the payload, the derivation path, and the required signature scheme. Because different paths produce different keys, a signature generated for one chain cannot be replayed to authorise a transaction on another. The isolation is enforced at the cryptographic level, not just by policy.
Broader Chain Support and Practical ImplicationsAccording to the official NEAR documentation, Chain Signatures currently supports signing for Bitcoin, Solana, Cosmos, XRP, Aptos, Sui, and a range of EVM-compatible networks including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, and Arbitrum, among others. The MPC network is secured by NEAR staking and, per the NEAR Foundation, also draws on Eigenlayer ETH restakers.
For developers, the practical benefit is meaningful. A single NEAR account can manage interactions across many blockchains without requiring users to hold native gas tokens on each chain. A companion feature called the Multichain Gas Relayer lets users pay transaction fees using NEAR or NEP-141 tokens regardless of the destination network. For DeFi builders, Chain Signatures opens up chains that traditionally lack smart contract functionality, such as Bitcoin and Dogecoin, to more complex financial logic without wrapping assets or introducing bridge-related counterparty risk.
The approach also narrows the attack surface considerably compared with lock-and-mint bridge designs, where a single contract holding locked assets becomes a concentrated point of failure.
Sources:
NEAR Documentation: What are Chain Signatures?
NEAR Foundation: Chain Signatures Launch
The Block: NEAR Protocol Chain Signatures
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.
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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.
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)
@NEARProtocol AI has released version 1.2 of @IronClawAI, its open-source secure agent platform, expanding the runtime with multi-user support, broader tool connectivity, and tighter defenses against prompt injection.
Open Tool Connectivity via MCP The headline addition in version 1.2 is support for any MCP-ready tool, stretching from CRMs to internal APIs. That flexibility lets teams wire the agent into existing enterprise tooling without rebuilding their stack.
Agents can now operate inside Slack channels and Telegram groups directly, with every message processed under the sending user's own identity, permissions, and approval gates.
Security Model: Untrusted History, Encrypted Enclaves The update also sharpens how IronClaw handles potentially hostile content in shared rooms. Channel history is treated as untrusted content rather than instructions, and the platform guards against prompt injection when agents read public channels.
Crucially, user secrets are kept outside the model itself.
The broader security rationale is straightforward. IronClaw's architecture is built around exactly that concern, keeping execution verifiable and secrets hardware-enforced.
Sources:
Forbes: IronClaw Meets OpenClaw And AI Agent Security Gets Serious
AIThority: NEAR AI Launches IronClaw, A Secure Runtime for Always-On AI Agents
IronClaw Official Documentation
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
TLDR: Grayscale rebalanced its DeFi Fund, selling Uniswap and boosting Ondo to a 25.44% weighting. The Smart Contract Fund now holds BNB at 30.6%, surpassing both Ether and Solana positions. Grayscale’s AI Fund sold NEAR Protocol shares, redirecting proceeds into Bittensor and Render tokens. Both DEFG and GSC Funds distribute components to cover expenses, reducing per-share holdings over time. Grayscale Investments has completed its second-quarter 2026 rebalancing across three multi-asset funds, adjusting component weightings for the DeFi Fund, Smart Contract Fund, and Decentralized AI Fund.
The Stamford, Connecticut-based firm confirmed the changes align with respective index methodologies.
Grayscale describes itself as the largest digital asset-focused investment platform by assets under management.
DEFG Fund and GSC Fund See Notable Shifts Grayscale adjusted the Decentralized Finance Fund by selling Uniswap holdings entirely from its active purchase basket.
The proceeds were redirected toward other existing components based on their proportional weightings. Following the update, Uniswap remained the largest holding at 34.16%, trailed by Ondo at 25.44%.
Aave, Ethena, Curve, and Lido DAO rounded out the remaining allocation, each holding smaller shares.
The Smart Contract Fund underwent a different type of adjustment during the same review period. Grayscale sold portions of existing components proportionally and used the cash to buy BNB.
This move pushed BNB to the top position at 30.6% of the fund. Ether followed closely at 29.47%, with Solana nearly matching that figure at 29.15%.
Smaller allocations within the Smart Contract Fund included Cardano, Hedera, Avalanche, and Sui. These four assets combined represented less than 11% of total fund weighting.
The structure reflects the CoinDesk Smart Contract Platform Select Capped Index methodology that governs the fund. Grayscale reviews these compositions quarterly to reflect market conditions.
Both funds operate without generating income for shareholders, according to the announcement. Instead, they regularly distribute fund components to cover ongoing operational expenses.
This distribution process means the number of underlying assets represented by each share gradually declines. Investors should factor this expense structure into long-term holding decisions.
AI Fund Rebalancing Reflects Sector Focus Grayscale’s Decentralized AI Fund also received quarterly adjustments following its own dedicated methodology.
The firm sold NEAR Protocol holdings and reinvested the proceeds across remaining fund components. Despite the sale, NEAR Protocol still led the fund with a 31.35% weighting after the transaction settled.
Bittensor claimed the second-largest position within the AI Fund at 29.15%. Render followed with a 21.59% allocation, while Filecoin rounded out the basket at 17.91%. These four assets now form the complete composition of Grayscale’s AI-focused investment vehicle.
Unlike the DeFi and Smart Contract funds, the AI Fund follows a methodology set directly by Grayscale as fund manager.
This structure allows the company flexibility in selecting or removing components each quarter. Holdings and weightings remain subject to change based on ongoing evaluation.
All weighting figures reflect end-of-day valuations recorded on August 3, 2026. Grayscale emphasized that investors cannot directly invest in the underlying indexes referenced. The company directed interested parties toward its official website for additional fund details.
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 co-founder Illia Polosukhin proposed a Sovereign Fund backed by approximately 30 million NEAR. This fund will produce yield to finance network security, validators, and public goods. With this proposal, a fixed supply of NEAR could be possible in the future. A new governance proposal from NEAR Protocol will bring a radical change. Especially to the way NEAR manages its treasuries and future economic strategy of tokens. The proposal was brought forth by one of the co-founders of NEAR, Illia Polosukhin, on August 3, 2026, through the NEAR Governance Forum. It involves an idea called the NEAR Sovereign Fund aimed at pooling together the treasury funds in order to earn sustainable yields for use in the operation of the network. The proposal also involves a long-term vision of finding alternative ways of funding the network’s security, other than token inflation.
New proposal from @ilblackdragon on the NEAR Governance Forum, laying out a vision for a NEAR Sovereign Fund.
The floor is open to validators, House of Stake delegates, and the whole NEAR community. Read the full post below and weigh in. https://t.co/959Dgninqb
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) August 4, 2026 Sovereign Fund Targets Sustainable Network Funding The proposal suggests the creation of the NEAR Sovereign Fund, which would be created from the initial issuance of 30 million NEAR tokens. Instead of keeping treasury funds idle, the NEAR Sovereign Fund would create yield and support validator rewards, network security, Multi-Party Computation providers, and public goods. Furthermore, it could also support the common infrastructure and other services for the NEAR community.
The NEAR House of Stake would govern this fund and enable token owners. This is to oversee the decisions made by the treasury. In addition, the proposal takes into account some problems that were previously raised by the community regarding the treasury and NEAR Foundation. Polosukhin introduced the initiative as a discussion one, not as a decision that was made. Public comments would last two weeks before governance actions.
Fixed Supply Vision is Dependent on Treasury Success Apart from the treasury management system described above, the proposal outlines a vision for tokenomics in the NEAR ecosystem. The majority of proof-of-stake blockchain networks use constant token issuance to reward validators securing the network. On the contrary, Polosukhin recommends using investment income from the Sovereign Fund to cover such costs.
If income from the treasury consistently covers such operational costs, then, in the long run, the protocol can minimize or stop token issuance through inflation. This situation would make the environment ideal for achieving a fixed supply of tokens without undermining the security of the network.
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 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
The Nikkei 225 Index closed up 4% today, with a cumulative decline of 8% so far this month.
According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index closed up 2,494.59 points on Friday, July 31, with a 4.03% gain, ending at 64,362.02 points. Chip stocks led the rally, while the Nikkei 225 has declined 8% cumulatively this month.
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According to Bitget market data, South Korea’s KOSPI index closed up 1,001.88 points on Friday, July 31, surging 17.91% to end at 6,595.44 points, marking its largest single-day percentage gain in history. SK Hynix jumped 30% to hit its daily price limit, while Samsung Electronics rose nearly 27%, both setting new records for their respective single-day gains. This week, the index saw sharp volatility, triggering market-wide circuit breakers twice, and staged a violent 18% intraday rebound on the day. The index has fallen 22.4% so far this month, with its monthly decline second only to the 27.2% record set in October 1997, and has also dropped 30% from its June peak.
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Once again, XRP is getting close to one of its most crucial levels of psychological support. The asset broke out of a tightening symmetrical triangle and is currently trading close to $1.06, putting the $1.00 threshold firmly within reach after failing to maintain its most recent recovery attempt.
XRP is unable to withstand the pressureThe next significant move could see XRP testing a level it has been able to defend throughout the second half of 2026 unless buyers intervene swiftly. After a few days of compression between converging trendlines, the most recent breakdown occurred. XRP eventually lost support, confirming bearish momentum rather than a continuation of the recent bounce, even though such patterns can resolve in either direction.
Selling pressure increased noticeably in tandem with the breakout, giving the move more legitimacy. Over almost all time periods, the technical picture is still poor. The 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages are all still above where XRP is trading, indicating a clear bearish trend.
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XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewMore significantly, buyers have been prevented from gaining sufficient momentum to reverse the market structure by the 20-day EMA acting as dynamic resistance once more. The first support is currently located around $1.00, a level that is both technically and psychologically significant. When stop-loss orders are activated and market sentiment worsens, losing it would probably hasten selling activity.
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If the $1 barrier fails, there isn't much structural support because the next significant support doesn't show up until about $0.95 below that. On the plus side, before any recovery could be deemed credible, XRP would need to reclaim the 20-day EMA around $1.10. Even so, the first significant barrier bulls would have to get past in order to reverse the medium-term trend is the 100-day EMA at $1.22, which remains a much stronger resistance level. Additionally, momentum indicators advise caution.
The RSI has dropped to about 39, which suggests that buying pressure is waning without yet reaching extremely oversold levels. In other words, there is still potential for the market to drop before technical exhaustion turns into a strong bullish argument.
The recent consolidation has seen comparatively low trading volume, indicating that neither buyers nor sellers made significant commitments prior to the most recent breakdown. Because of this lack of conviction, markets are frequently exposed to more aggressive moves once support levels collapse.
Ethereum's rise continuesDespite a slight decline, Ethereum has continued to rise; the second-largest cryptocurrency is currently trading slightly below $1,900 and is setting itself up for another attempt to reclaim $2,000.
ETH has established a series of higher lows after recovering rapidly from the capitulation lows in June, indicating that buyers are still in control even as the market pauses beneath a significant resistance zone.
The 100-day exponential moving average, which has once again capped the most recent rally at $1,930, is the most immediate obstacle. Ethereum made a brief intraday surge above the level but was unable to achieve a strong breakout, indicating that sellers are still actively defending the area.
ETH/USDT Chart by TradingViewNevertheless, the price has remained comfortably above the rising 20-day EMA at $1,845, indicating that the rejection has been rather shallow. That is a positive sign for bulls. Ethereum keeps consolidating just under resistance rather than giving back a sizable portion of the recent gain.
When buyers absorb selling pressure before attempting another breakout, this kind of price action frequently indicates accumulation. A clear close above the 100-day EMA would probably draw attention to the psychological $2,000 barrier.
The 200-day EMA around $2,175, which continues to characterize Ethereum's longer-term decline, is still the next significant technical barrier after that level. It would be the strongest bullish signal ETH has produced in months if both moving averages were reclaimed.
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Despite the recent slowdown, momentum indicators continue to be positive. The RSI is still well below overbought levels, but it is comfortably above neutral territory at 53. This implies that Ethereum still has potential to rise further without experiencing the momentum exhaustion that is usually brought on by intense rallies. Throughout the recovery, volume has also remained comparatively stable.
Although buying activity has decreased in comparison to the sharp recovery from June's lows, it still supports the string of higher lows that have emerged over the last few weeks. The 20-day EMA around $1,845 is the crucial support to watch. The current recovery structure is unaffected as long as Ethereum stays above that threshold. A break below it would probably push the asset closer to the 50-day EMA at about $1,757, where buyers would be put to the test in a more significant way.
Near Protocol's rally is overThe technical framework that helped Near Protocol (NEAR) recover over the last two months has officially been lost. The token broke below its main support cluster after consolidating above important moving averages for a few weeks, ending the previous uptrend and reversing momentum in favor of sellers.
NEAR moved decisively below the 20-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages with the most recent decline, pushing it to about $1.63. Throughout July, a strong technical floor was created as those averages converged between $1.81 and $1.88. The asset cut through all three levels in a single move rather than rising again, indicating that buyers are no longer in control of the short-term trend.
NEAR/USDT Chart by TradingViewBecause NEAR had been forming a comparatively stable consolidation following its explosive rally in late May and early June, the breakdown is especially significant. The token briefly surged above $3 during that rally, but momentum gradually waned and each subsequent attempt at recovery resulted in lower highs. The most recent sell-off appears to complete that downward trend.
The 200-day EMA, which frequently divides long-term bullish and bearish conditions, has now failed to hold as support. Losing that level is rarely a good technical signal, especially when there is weakness across shorter-term moving averages as well. Any short-term bounce will probably be viewed by the market as another selling opportunity unless NEAR swiftly reclaims the region above $1.82.
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Additionally, momentum indicators suggest growing weakness. The RSI has dropped to about 33, which is close to oversold territory but still above the extreme levels that usually lead to more robust relief rallies. In other words, while selling pressure has increased, the chart does not yet show that bears have exhausted themselves.
The fact that volume has not skyrocketed during the breakdown indicates that a lack of buying interest rather than outright panic has been the primary driver of the decline. Demand gradually declines rather than collapsing in a single capitulation event, which is often indicative of trend deterioration.
The $1.50-$1.55 range, which served as resistance prior to the May breakout, is the next support worth watching. NEAR may return to the $1.30 area, thereby erasing a large portion of the summer recovery, if buyers are unable to defend that range. On the plus side, reclaiming the moving-average cluster around $1.82–$1.88 is now crucial.
Consistently moving back above those levels would be the only way to refute the current breakdown and rebuild confidence that the broader recovery is still intact. However, the technical data currently favors the bears.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is trading in the red for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, bringing losses to more than 10% so far this week. Retail support for NEAR wanes, with its futures Open Interest (OI) and funding rate decreasing. The technical outlook for NEAR indicates roughly 15% downside potential, with bearish momentum remaining firm.
NEAR Protocol loses speculative demand amid broader market risk-off sentimentNEAR Protocol is losing its retail strength in the derivatives market as broader crypto market sentiment turns risk-off. Crypto Fear and Greed Index at 35 shows a firm bearish grip on the market amid fears of a US Federal Reserve rate hike on Wednesday, as previously reported by FXStreet.
On the retail side, CoinGlass data show that NEAR futures Open Interest (OI) is down 4% over the past 24 hours to $356.69 million, reflecting a decline in the notional value of active contracts and a potential positional wipeout. Total liquidation of $4.01 million in the same period, led by $3.94 million in long liquidation, reaffirms a sell-side bias, wiping out long positions.
In addition, the funding rate has dropped to 0.0042% from 0.0099% the previous day, suggesting that bullish sentiment is easing among traders, reducing the premium paid to hold long positions.
NEAR derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassTechnical outlook: How low will NEAR price go?NEAR Protocol maintains a bearish near-term bias, as price remains in a clear downward trend over the last two weeks. NEAR trades below both the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $1.9050 and $1.8024, suggesting rallies remain capped for now.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 31 signals weak momentum and proximity to oversold territory. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is negative, with the MACD line below the signal line, reinforcing a downside tilt.
Looking down, the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement, measured from $3.1850 to $0.8140, at $1.3941 forms the first notable support, with the swing low zone near the 0.0% retracement at 0.8410 acting as a more distant structural floor if selling accelerates.
NEAR/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, initial resistance appears at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the latest swing, sitting around $1.7364, ahead of the 200-day EMA at $1.8024 and the 50-day EMA at 1.9050. A daily close above these clustered EMAs would be needed to ease the prevailing bearish pressure and open the way toward the 50.0% retracement at $2.0130.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
NEAR Protocol [NEAR] became one of the first blockchains with a NIST-approved post-quantum signature scheme in production. The Layer 1 AI-native settlement layer announced this in a post on X on Monday, 20th July.
The upgrade has also launched dynamic resharding. This will allow the network to scale itself automatically. The chain also believes in agentic commerce and is now actively preparing for it.
NEAR is building an open, integrated stack for the agent economy. Within this system, NEAR Protocol intends to bring identity, liquidity, private inference, confidential execution, settlement, governance, and economics.
In fact, this announcement dates back to February 2026, marking a structural shift for the protocol amid an ongoing bear market. With pessimistic wider market sentiment, a bullish turnaround has been hard to enforce so far.
A potential rebound for NEAR ahead? In the last 24 hours, the altcoin has posted losses of almost 3%, with its Open Interest sliding by 4.1% too. The daily trading volume saw a marginal uptick of 5.5%, but the short-term NEAR trend has been bearish.
Since forming a local high at $2.06 on Tuesday, 21st July, the token’s price has declined by 13.5%.
Source: Ali Charts on X Analyst Ali Martinez noted that the TD Sequential indicator gave a buy signal for NEAR on the 4-hour chart. A sell signal on 21st July has been vindicated. Hence, the question – Will this buy signal be correct too?
Traders’ call to action – Wait to sell Source: NEAR/USDT on TradingView The Fibonacci retracement levels (yellow) highlighted the NEAR rejection from $2.80-$3.00 as coming from the 78.6% retracement zone. This was in line with the higher timeframe bearish trend. The rally in May was only a retracement that has since begun to reverse itself.
For nearly two months, the bulls have defiantly held on to the $1.80-support zone. However, the CMF flashed signs of significant selling pressure, with the MACD underlining downward momentum too.
It could be a make-or-break moment for the buyers. A drop below $1.80 would signal a bearish trend continuation and could offer swing traders a chance to go short.
A price bounce beyond $2.10 is needed to instill temporary bullish confidence in NEAR.
Final Summary NEAR Protocol’s quantum-safe signing has gone live, with the TD Sequential offering up a buy signal. Bulls have been clinging to the $1.80-support zone, but the higher timeframe trend has been bearish.
Kripto para piyasasında satış baskısı etkisini sürdürürken, Bitcoin (BTC) son 24 saatte yaşadığı değer kaybıyla 63 bin dolar seviyesine geriledi. Lider kripto paradaki geri çekilme, altcoin piyasasında da geniş çaplı satışları beraberinde getirirken, Kripto paraların büyük bölümü günü düşüşle geçirdi. Sui (SUI), Cardano (ADA), NEAR Protocol (NEAR) ve Solana (SOL) en fazla değer kaybeden büyük kripto paralar arasında yer alırken, Uniswap (UNI) ise yükseliş kaydeden tek önemli altcoin oldu.
Bitcoin 63 Bin Dolar Seviyesine Geriledi Bitcoin, son işlem gününde satış baskısının artmasıyla birlikte 63 bin dolar seviyesine kadar geriledi. Gün içerisinde toparlanma denemeleri görülse de lider kripto para son 24 saatte yaklaşık yüzde 1 değer kaybetti. Analistler, Bitcoin’deki geri çekilmenin yalnızca teknik nedenlerden kaynaklanmadığını, yatırımcıların küresel ekonomik gelişmeler ve makro belirsizlikler nedeniyle daha temkinli hareket ettiğini belirtiyor. Kısa vadede 63 bin dolar seviyesinin korunup korunamayacağı ise piyasanın yönü açısından kritik önem taşıyor.
İlginizi Çekebilir: Kripto Piyasasında Kapanma Dalgası: Bir Proje Daha Veda Ediyor!
Bitcoin’deki düşüş, altcoin piyasasında daha sert fiyat hareketlerini beraberinde getirdi. Kripto paraların büyük bölümü değer kaybederken en dikkat çeken düşüşler şu varlıklarda görüldü:
Sui (SUI): Yaklaşık yüzde 4 düşüş Cardano (ADA): Yaklaşık yüzde 3-4 düşüş NEAR Protocol (NEAR): Yaklaşık yüzde 3-4 düşüş Solana (SOL): Yaklaşık yüzde 2,5 düşüş Bu tablo, yatırımcıların riskli varlıklardan çıkış yaparak daha temkinli bir pozisyon almaya devam ettiğini gösteriyor.
Bitcoin ve Altcoinlerde Gözler Destek Seviyelerinde Piyasa uzmanları, Bitcoin’in 63 bin dolar seviyesinin üzerinde tutunmasının kısa vadeli teknik görünüm açısından kritik önem taşıdığına dikkat çekiyor. Bu seviyenin korunması, satış baskısının hafiflemesiyle birlikte tepki alımlarını destekleyebilir ve yatırımcı güveninin yeniden artmasına katkı sağlayabilir. Özellikle işlem hacminde yaşanabilecek artışın, Bitcoin’in kayıplarını telafi ederek daha yüksek direnç seviyelerini test etmesinin önünü açabileceği değerlendiriliyor. Buna karşın 63 bin dolar seviyesinin aşağı yönlü kırılması halinde satış baskısının güçlenmesi ve fiyatın daha düşük destek bölgelerine doğru geri çekilme riskinin artabileceği ifade ediliyor.
Altcoin piyasasında ise risk iştahının zayıf seyretmesi nedeniyle oynaklığın bir süre daha yüksek kalması bekleniyor. Bitcoin’deki yön arayışının netleşmemesi, yatırımcıların büyük bölümünü temkinli hareket etmeye yönlendirirken, özellikle orta ve düşük piyasa değerine sahip altcoinlerde fiyat dalgalanmalarının daha sert yaşanabileceği belirtiliyor. Analistler, önümüzdeki günlerde hem Bitcoin’in kritik destek seviyelerindeki performansının hem de makroekonomik gelişmelerin, kripto para piyasasının genel yönü üzerinde belirleyici olmaya devam edeceğini vurguluyor.
Değerlendirme Bitcoin’in 63 bin dolar seviyesine gerilemesi, kripto para piyasasında satış baskısının yeniden güç kazandığını gösteriyor. Altcoinlerde görülen daha sert düşüşler, yatırımcıların riskten kaçınma eğiliminin arttığına işaret ederken, Uniswap’ın pozitif ayrışması günün dikkat çeken gelişmelerinden biri oldu. Önümüzdeki günlerde Bitcoin’in kritik destek seviyelerindeki performansı ve küresel piyasalardaki gelişmeler, hem BTC’nin hem de altcoinlerin kısa vadeli yönü üzerinde belirleyici olmaya devam edecek.
Son dakika kripto para haberleri için hemen tıkla
Konu ile ilgili yorumlarınızı bize yazabilirsiniz. Ayrıca, bu tarz bilgilendirici içeriklerin devamının gelmesini isterseniz, bizleri Telegram, Youtube ve Twitter kanallarımızdan takip edebilirsiniz.
Key Takeaways NEAR Intents platform has facilitated more than $23 billion in cross-chain transaction volume spanning 30+ blockchain networks Compared to major competitors like Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, NEAR’s DeFi ecosystem remains underdeveloped Token inflation has been reduced significantly from 5% annually to approximately 2.5% Daily fee generation remains minimal, placing token valuation dependency on speculative future adoption Disconnect exists between product ecosystem expansion and actual NEAR token value accrual NEAR Protocol operates as a proof-of-stake blockchain network designed to support smart contract functionality and decentralized applications. The project was co-founded by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov, engineers with extensive experience in artificial intelligence and distributed computing systems.
NEAR Price Currently, the platform emphasizes “chain abstraction” as its primary strategic direction. This approach aims to enable seamless multi-blockchain interactions for users without requiring them to navigate bridges, manage multiple gas tokens, or operate different wallet infrastructures. NEAR’s technology manages these complexities behind the scenes.
This strategic positioning provides NEAR with more distinctive market differentiation compared to numerous Layer 1 competitors that primarily emphasize transaction throughput or cost efficiency.
The TD Sequential called the last move on $NEAR.
A sell signal on July 21 was followed by an 8.34% decline. Now, the indicator has flipped to a buy signal, pointing to a potential rebound. pic.twitter.com/VK5bffMLaL
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 23, 2026
The most compelling element of NEAR’s current ecosystem is the NEAR Intents functionality. This system allows users to specify desired transaction outcomes — such as exchanging an Ethereum-based token for a Solana asset — while market makers competitively execute the transaction to deliver optimal pricing.
According to official data, the Intents platform has processed over $23 billion in cumulative transaction volume. The infrastructure operates across more than 30 different blockchain networks, facilitates trades for over 100 digital assets, and integrates with leading cryptocurrency wallets and platforms.
These metrics demonstrate genuine product adoption, which stands out favorably in a cryptocurrency landscape where numerous projects remain largely theoretical.
Fee Generation Remains Disproportionate to Market Valuation NEAR’s primary blockchain infrastructure handles several hundred thousand transactions each day and maintains tens of thousands of daily active participants. However, its decentralized finance ecosystem significantly trails behind Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain in size and activity.
Both total value locked in DeFi protocols and stablecoin circulation on NEAR represent only a minor percentage of the network’s multi-billion dollar market capitalization. Additionally, daily transaction fee revenue remains minimal, indicating that current token pricing reflects primarily speculative expectations about future expansion rather than present economic activity.
While this pattern is typical among emerging blockchain platforms, it establishes a high bar for NEAR to demonstrate sustained value creation.
From a tokenomics perspective, NEAR has implemented meaningful improvements. The annual token emission rate has decreased from 5% to roughly 2.5% of circulating supply. Additionally, a percentage of network fees undergoes burning, creating a deflationary mechanism to counterbalance inflation.
However, current fee generation volumes remain insufficient for the burning mechanism to create substantial deflationary pressure. Token holders who choose not to stake their assets experience gradual dilution as newly minted tokens enter the circulating supply.
Understanding the Value Accrual Problem The fundamental concern facing NEAR investors is whether ecosystem expansion will translate into increased token demand.
The NEAR Intents platform can continue expanding without necessarily generating proportional NEAR token demand. Transaction fees on the NEAR network are intentionally minimal, and revenues from other services may flow to ecosystem partners, liquidity providers, or development funds rather than directly benefiting token holders.
This structure creates a potential misalignment between product market success and token appreciation. The investment thesis would strengthen considerably if revenue mechanisms were redesigned to channel more value toward NEAR token buybacks, burning programs, or staking rewards through transparent and systematic processes.
The current situation presents a paradox: NEAR facilitates $23 billion in cross-chain transaction volume through its Intents infrastructure while its DeFi total value locked remains a small fraction of its overall market capitalization.
Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Trading activity on NEAR Protocol has sharply decreased, with major exchanges seeing a 36% decline in 24-hour spot volume. Spot trading volume has decreased to about $39 million, according to CoinGlass data, but futures volume is still significantly higher at about $302 million. The drop occurs as NEAR has been trading sideways for a few weeks and is having trouble gaining new momentum.
Near surges above $3The decline in spot activity indicates that, in the wake of the explosive rally that propelled NEAR above $3 earlier this year, many traders may have moved to the sidelines. Since then, speculative interest has cooled and volatility has gradually decreased as the asset has entered a protracted consolidation phase.
NEAR/USDT Chart by TradingViewThis pattern is supported by exchange-specific data. Over the last 24 hours, spot volume on Binance, the biggest market for NEAR, has decreased by more than 30%, while drops of more than 38% have been reported by OKX and Bybit. KuCoin saw an even more dramatic decline of almost 57%, suggesting that the slowdown is not limited to a single venue. It is worth noting that, despite lower spot demand, derivatives positioning remains generally positive.
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Major exchanges' long/short ratios are still favoring bulls, and the top traders on Binance continue to hold more long than short positions. Additionally, liquidation data indicates that long positions accounted for the majority of forced closures over the last 24 hours, indicating that bullish traders absorbed most of the recent volatility rather than a wave of aggressive short selling.
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Technically speaking, NEAR is at a critical juncture. Right now, the asset is trading close to $1.89, which is just above its 200-day moving average. Between buyers and sellers, this level has become a significant battleground. The price is still below the 50-day moving average, but it is still above longer-term support, which keeps the overall structure from turning clearly bearish.
Momentum isn't balanced The picture presented by momentum indicators is neutral. With neither buyers nor sellers having a distinct advantage, the Relative Strength Index is at about 48, indicating balanced market conditions. In line with the general decline in trading activity, volume has also decreased throughout July.
The psychological $2 level, where the 50-day moving average likewise converges, continues to be the immediate resistance. Bullish momentum could be revived and sidelined capital could be drawn back into the market with a strong move above that area. On the other hand, NEAR may be exposed to a deeper retracement towards the $1.70-$1.75 range if support around the 200-day moving average is lost.
As of right now, the decline in trading volume appears to be more indicative of waning speculative activity than of outright panic selling. NEAR is likely to remain stuck in its current consolidation phase unless volume starts to rise alongside a breakout above key resistance.
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
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Aurora suffered a full outage of the mainnet, which stopped block production and smart contracts. The outage is a clear demonstration of a massive contraction in the capitalization of the project by 99 percent since 2022. Aurora suffered a full outage of the mainnet in the early hours of July 20, 2026, following the unexpected halt of block production at 2:16:11 a.m. UTC, as reported by Onchain Lens. This caused an immediate interruption of transactions and smart contract executions on the network.
Aurora acts as a compatible Ethereum Virtual Machine layer running on NEAR Protocol. It allows developers to launch Solidity-based smart contracts and gain the advantages of low transaction fees and increased throughput. The platform has secured investment from top venture capitals such as Pantera Capital, Electric Capital, and Dragonfly Capital, which contributed $12 million to Aurora’s fundraising process. While many projects were impacted by the downtime, Aurora’s team chose to remain silent regarding the issue for several hours following the crash.
Aurora’s project has failed to release a detailed technical statement about what caused the crash and a timeframe for when the network will be back up and running. Due to the lack of information released by Aurora, the platform’s operations were paused, leaving developers and users in suspense while all blockchain activity on Aurora was suspended.
Aurora Experiences Operational Difficulties The current outage suffered by Aurora is part of a growing trend of diminished activity in the NEAR-based scaling ecosystem. As per DefiLlama, the total value of funds locked on Aurora was close to $2.5 billion during the crypto market cycle of 2022. The number of funds since then has dropped by more than 99%, dropping to around $4.65 million.
The long period of low liquidity has made it such that there have been fewer users in the ecosystem at the time of the surprising shutdown of the mainnet. Unlike other outages experienced in major blockchain ecosystems, the outage experienced by Aurora received little response from the greater crypto market, demonstrating the diminished market presence of the platform.
Next Comes the Task of Rebuilding Confidence As Aurora’s development team has not yet offered a solution for the network outage and recovery timeline, developers and users keep watching the status of the network and evaluating the risks involved. Block production, root cause analysis, and proper communication will be essential to rebuild confidence.
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Aurora, an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible blockchain network running on the NEAR Protocol, reportedly experienced access issues on its mainnet. According to information shared by Onchain Lens, the Aurora mainnet became unavailable at 05:16:11 and the outage was ongoing at the time of writing.
Aurora stands out as a layer that enables Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts to run on the NEAR Protocol infrastructure with lower transaction costs and higher scalability. Thanks to EVM compatibility, developers can migrate existing Ethereum applications to the Aurora network without making significant changes.
In its 2021 funding round, the project raised a total of $12 million from investors including leading venture capital firms in the sector such as Pantera Capital, Electric Capital, and Dragonfly Capital.
At the time, Aurora, which offered alternative solutions to Ethereum’s high transaction fees, stood out and achieved significant growth in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.
However, DeFiLlama data shows that the network has shrunk significantly in recent years. Aurora’s total value of assets locked (TVL) peaked at approximately $2.5 billion in 2022, but subsequently declined by about 99 percent to $4.65 million due to market contraction and decreased user interest.
Aurora has not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of the main network outage. It remains unclear whether the problem was due to a technical malfunction, scheduled maintenance, or another reason.
Experts say that such outages on blockchain networks can temporarily affect user transactions, decentralized finance applications, and smart contracts. While the Aurora team is expected to continue working to resolve the issue, users are advised to follow announcements from official channels.
*This is not investment advice.
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Following a more than 100% increase in derivatives market flows, Near Protocol (NEAR) is exhibiting renewed activity, indicating that traders are once again preparing for a bigger move. Fresh capital entering futures markets may indicate that volatility is about to return, even though NEAR has spent the last few weeks consolidating following its explosive rally in May and June.
Liquidity is growingRecent futures flow data shows that NEAR saw a net inflow of about $1.7 million during the four-hour period, which is a 242% increase. With net inflows of $1.78 million and growth of more than 200%, the eight-hour period also remained steadily positive. When traders start opening new positions ahead of expected market movement, such spikes usually signify increased speculative interest.
NEAR/USDT Chart by TradingViewWhen combined with growing open interest across major exchanges, the derivatives picture becomes even more intriguing. Despite a recent slowdown in spot market volume, open interest remains high, and Binance, Bybit, and MEXC continue to dominate NEAR trading activity. When traders prepare for a directional breakout during accumulation phases, this divergence frequently appears.
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Near might be stuckTechnically speaking, NEAR is still stuck between important moving averages and is currently trading at about $1.93. After failing to maintain a move above the $2.00-$2.10 range, where the 50-day moving average continues to serve as resistance, the asset recently lost momentum. Bulls, however, continue to have a significant advantage because the price is still above the 100-day and 200-day trend indicators in the $1.80-$1.85 range.
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The chart also shows that, in contrast to the extreme fluctuations observed in May and June, volatility has considerably decreased. Sharp directional movements have historically followed such contraction periods. This indecision is reflected in the Relative Strength Index near 48, which is essentially in neutral territory and allows for either bullish or bearish expansion.
Regaining $2.05 would probably give bulls fresh momentum and possibly pave the way for the $2.30-$2.50 range. On the downside, losing support at $1.80 would render the existing recovery structure invalid and put NEAR at greater risk of a retracement.
NEAR appears to be entering a phase where the next volatility expansion could happen sooner rather than later, as futures flows have accelerated by more than 100% while the price remains compressed. Traders are already positioning themselves for it.
TLDR: NEAR Protocol futures flows increased sharply across four-hour and eight-hour periods, showing renewed speculative activity despite limited spot market momentum. NEAR price trades near $1.93 and faces a dense resistance cluster between $1.94 and $2.10, where several short-term averages restrict recovery attempts. A confirmed move above $2.05 could support an advance toward $2.30 and $2.50, while losing $1.80 may weaken the current recovery structure. Rising ecosystem liquidity, higher open interest, and compressed volatility suggest traders are preparing for a larger directional move in the futures market. NEAR Protocol futures flows have accelerated while the token trades near $1.93. The increase shows that derivatives traders are opening fresh positions during a period of narrow price movement.
Four-hour net inflows reached about $1.7 million, representing a 242% increase. Eight-hour flows also exceeded $1.78 million after rising more than 200%. Meanwhile, NEAR price remains trapped below a cluster of short-term moving averages.
The combination of rising derivatives activity and falling volatility creates a sensitive technical setup. Traders now watch $2.05 for bullish confirmation and $1.80 for signs of a deeper decline.
NEAR Protocol Futures Flows Rise During Price Compression NEAR Protocol futures flows have more than doubled across several short trading periods. The move signals stronger interest from leveraged traders after weeks of consolidation.
Source: Coinglass Open interest also stays elevated across Binance, Bybit, and MEXC. Those exchanges account for a large share of NEAR derivatives activity. However, spot trading volume shows less conviction.
Binance recorded around $11.6 million in daily spot volume. That level offers limited support for a lasting breakout without a clear rise in demand.
Funding rates near 0.0065% remain broadly neutral. Therefore, perpetual traders have not built an extreme long or short bias. This reduces immediate squeeze pressure but leaves room for positioning to expand quickly.
On-chain figures provide another source of support. The NEAR ecosystem’s total value locked rose 61.21% over the past week. Decentralized exchange volume increased by almost 100% during the same period.
Protocol fees showed little movement despite the liquidity increase. This suggests much of the activity may reflect capital rotation rather than sustained network usage.
NEAR also introduced Confidential Intents through its Infinex integration on July 18. The product enables private cross-chain swaps and deposits. Still, daily trading volume fell, limiting its immediate effect on NEAR price.
NEAR Price Faces a Breakout Test Near the Two Dollar Level NEAR price trades below several closely grouped indicators. The seven-day simple moving average stands near $1.96, while the 20-day average sits around $1.94.
The 12-day and 26-day exponential moving averages also cluster near $1.95 and $1.96. This narrow resistance wall explains why buyers have struggled to secure a daily close above $2.00.
Momentum indicators show limited directional strength. The Relative Strength Index sits near 48, placing NEAR in neutral territory. The MACD histogram rests near zero, while the MACD line holds slightly negative.
The Stochastic indicator near 32 and 25 points to weaker momentum without showing extreme oversold conditions. Bollinger Bands place support near $1.79 and resistance around $2.09.
Source: TradingView A daily close above $1.96 would improve short-term momentum. Bulls would still need to reclaim $2.05 with stronger trading volume. That move could open the path toward $2.30 and $2.50.
Failure to hold the $1.90 area may expose $1.86. A break below $1.80 would damage the recovery structure and increase the risk of a move toward $1.74. The 200-day moving average near $1.58 marks the broader structural support.
@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
NEAR Protocol is showing renewed strength as it surpasses the psychological $2.00 threshold, while XRP and two leading memecoins, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, remain subdued below their important resistance levels.
NEAR Protocol breaks $2.00, signals recoveryAfter consolidating between $1.80 and $2.00 for several weeks, NEAR Protocol, a blockchain network designed for scalability and developer-friendly decentralized applications, managed to move above the $2 mark. NEAR now trades above its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, a technical alignment considered positive during market recovery cycles.
Buyers defended the $1.80 range, which aligns closely with the 200-day moving average. From this support, the price gradually moved higher, even though trading volume remains below levels seen during NEAR’s rally in May. This suggests the uptrend is stabilizing but not yet strong in momentum.
The asset faces immediate resistance near $2.10, where the 100-day moving average sits, and a successful move above may target $2.30 or higher. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved above 50, a sign that bullish sentiment is returning.
AssetCurrent PriceKey ResistanceRSITrendNEAR$2.05$2.10Above 50RecoveryXRP$1.09$1.1547BearishSHIB$0.0000042$0.000004536BearishDOGE$0.076$0.083–BearishMarket structure for NEAR has improved as the asset holds above all major trend indicators, even as trading volume stays modest compared to the last major rally.
XRP struggles beneath major moving averagesXRP, the digital asset associated with Ripple’s global payments network, remains in a prolonged corrective phase. Trading around $1.09 and below its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, XRP continues to face resistance between $1.11 and $1.15. Recent attempts to recover have stalled at these levels, with no significant price reversal established.
The chart displays lower highs and lower lows since June, characterizing a persistent downtrend. Although XRP has not formed new lows, buyers have not generated enough strength to test the crucial $1.15 resistance zone. Its RSI stands at 47, indicating neutral momentum.
For a brighter outlook, XRP must reclaim the 50-day moving average and hold above $1.12. Until that happens, the asset remains under corrective pressure.
Memecoins Dogecoin and Shiba Inu continue in correctionDogecoin and Shiba Inu, two of the leading memecoins, are both struggling below key trend indicators. Dogecoin is trading well beneath the $0.076 to $0.083 resistance band and critical moving averages, unable to fully recover from a significant breakdown that began in June.
Meanwhile, SHIB faces even greater technical challenges. The token is trading at $0.0000042, staying below its main moving averages. Several attempts to break through resistance have failed, and each breakout has met with fresh selling pressure. Despite a short-lived improvement in early July, both sentiment and trading volume have faded.
SHIB’s RSI is now near 36, just above oversold levels. Historically, such conditions have sometimes led to brief rallies, but the token needs to reclaim the 50-day moving average before a sustained recovery could develop.
Both memecoins are suffering from exhausted demand, with declining volumes and fewer signs of aggressive selling. Dogecoin continues to print lower highs, and its RSI has only partially recovered from oversold conditions. Neither asset is attracting large inflows of new capital.
If DOGE cannot regain the area above $0.076, and SHIB fails to move past $0.0000045, both are likely to remain in a corrective pattern despite reduced selling pressure in recent weeks.
Volume spikes seen during June’s breakdown in these assets have not reappeared, indicating a lack of conviction from sellers but also insufficient buying interest to trigger major rallies.
Both Dogecoin and SHIB need to overcome several technical obstacles before a full trend reversal becomes likely. Their major moving averages remain as significant resistance, and only a clear move above these levels would change their market outlook.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) price is up 2% on Tuesday, testing the breakout of its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1.95. On-chain data show early signs of a deflationary mechanism, with the capture rate rising to 30% over 30 days and 24% of revenue being shifted toward buybacks. A 7% jump in NEAR futures Open Interest and a positive funding rate reflect retail support amid a near-term recovery phase.
Technically, NEAR must sustain a daily close above its 50-day EMA at $1.95 to extend its recovery toward $2.54.
Early signs of deflationary tokenomicsNEAR Intents, a new transaction primitive on NEAR Protocol, has increased revenue per similar transaction volume, indicating greater efficiency and fueling its buyback program. Typically, an increase in buybacks leads to greater demand for the token due to thinner supply and improved sentiment.
In a recent X post, NEAR Protocol announced that its all-time trading volume surpassed $22 billion, with lifetime revenue of $4.05 million. However, the capture rate – the share of NEAR captured as revenue – has jumped 30% over the last 30 days, with Net Revenue Yield (NRY) rising over 4% in June, up from around 1.50% in April. This increase in NRY suggests a higher percentage of revenue generated from swap volume, reaffirming the heightened revenue associated with Intents efficiency.
In addition, 24% of captured revenue feeds the buyback flow over the last 30 days, indicating early signs of a deflationary start.
On the retail side, CoinGlass data show that NEAR futures Open Interest (OI) is up 7% to $431.67 million over the last 24 hours, indicating a surge in the notional value of active positions. The positional buildup shows a bullish bias, with the funding rate at 0.0101% on Tuesday, indicating buyers are willing to hold long positions at a premium.
NEAR on-chain data.
NEAR derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassWill NEAR price rise above $2?NEAR Protocol shows a steady recovery on Tuesday, inching closer to the $2.00 mark. The recovery is testing a breakout of a crucial resistance barrier, which includes the overhead trendline near the 50-day EMA at $1.95 and the 50% retracement at $1.96, measured over the $1.24-$3.08 upswing. A decisive close above the zone could test the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $2.54, projecting an upside potential of roughly 20%.
Momentum stays supportive, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) rising above its signal line with renewed positive histograms, as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) rises toward to the neutral 50 mark, hinting at room for further upside move.
NEAR/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support is seen at the reclaimed support trendline level near $1.87, reinforced by the 200-day EMA at $1.79.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
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Following a significant surge in market activity, NEAR Protocol is once again drawing interest from traders. The token itself stabilized between $1.90 and $1.92, but trading volume increased by more than 43% over the past day. Investors are now wondering if this surge in activity signals the start of a new rally or if it's just a brief spike in speculation.
Reaching the conversion pointTechnically speaking, NEAR's structure is still far stronger than it was at the beginning of the year. The asset eventually reached highs above $2.80 during the strong May breakout after bottoming around $0.95 in February and establishing a steady recovery trend. Even though the rally eventually subsided, NEAR has managed to avoid a total reversal and is still trading above its long-term support levels. Right now, the price is close to a crucial point where multiple moving averages converge.
NEAR/USDT Chart by TradingViewThe 50-day EMA near $2.11 continues to be the main resistance level that bulls must overcome, while the 100-day EMA around $1.85 and the 200-day EMA near $1.80 are offering support beneath the market. The overall recovery structure is unaffected as long as NEAR stays higher than the longer-term averages.
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The fact that the volume surge comes after several weeks of consolidation makes it especially intriguing. Larger directional moves are frequently preceded by rising volume, particularly when stable price action rather than panic selling is present. Despite numerous tests, buyers in NEAR's case seem prepared to defend the $1.85-$1.90 range.
Bullish positioning is in favorMajor exchanges' long-short ratios continue to favor bullish positioning, with traders typically preferring upside exposure. Additionally, spot inflows have turned positive, indicating that leveraged futures traders are not the only source of demand.
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But bulls still have work to do. Since the May peak, the token has been making lower highs; to break that pattern, a clear breakout above $2.10 would be required. Such a move would probably open the door to a retest of the $2.40–$2.50 area, where sellers had previously regained control.
For the time being, rather than confirming a complete trend reversal, the 43% increase in volume is an encouraging signal. Another rally attempt may materialize in the upcoming weeks if buying activity persists and NEAR manages to break through neighboring resistance levels. The asset's current configuration is among the best it has shown since its spring recovery began.
Key HighlightsLeading AI Cryptocurrency Tokens for 2025Bittensor (TAO)Near Protocol (NEAR)Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET)Render Network (RENDER)Akash Network (AKT)Is AI Crypto Investment Worthwhile? Bittensor (TAO) incentivizes participants in a decentralized machine learning ecosystem through token rewards NEAR Protocol (NEAR) develops AI-focused infrastructure on a high-speed, cost-efficient Layer 1 network Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) consolidates several AI blockchain initiatives into a unified platform Render Network (RENDER) delivers a distributed GPU marketplace supporting AI and rendering workloads Akash Network (AKT) creates decentralized cloud infrastructure competing with conventional hosting services Leading AI Cryptocurrency Tokens for 2025 The intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology is transforming digital asset markets. An expanding array of cryptocurrency ventures now integrate AI capabilities with distributed ledger systems, opening fresh investment avenues. Below are five notable AI-centered digital currencies deserving attention.
Bittensor (TAO) Bittensor has emerged as a premier AI-driven cryptocurrency initiative. This platform enables developers and academics to supply machine learning algorithms to a distributed network. Participants receive TAO token compensation proportional to their contributions’ utility.
Bittensor (TAO) Price The appetite for artificial intelligence computation keeps expanding. Bittensor presents an open-source counterpart to proprietary AI infrastructure controlled by major technology corporations. While the token experiences volatility, numerous investors recognize its extended-horizon promise.
Near Protocol (NEAR) Near Protocol operates as a scalable Layer 1 blockchain network that has pivoted toward artificial intelligence initiatives. This venture has committed resources to AI-centric infrastructure and developer toolsets for creating AI-enhanced decentralized applications.
NEAR delivers rapid transaction processing and minimal transaction costs, making it appealing for AI application creators. Should artificial intelligence continue propelling blockchain adoption, Near stands well-positioned to capitalize on this trajectory.
Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) The Artificial Superintelligence Alliance consolidates multiple AI blockchain projects within a single comprehensive framework. Its mission involves establishing a network enabling autonomous AI agents to interact and execute functions without dependence on centralized infrastructure.
This initiative has captured investor interest through its ambitious scope and strategic vision. While implementation challenges exist, it maintains status as one of the most substantial and prominent AI ecosystems within cryptocurrency markets.
Render Network (RENDER) Developing AI models demands substantial computational resources. Render Network tackles this challenge by operating a decentralized exchange where participants can access idle GPU processing capacity from network contributors.
Initially launched as a rendering solution for visual content creators, the platform has broadened its scope to accommodate AI computing tasks amid surging graphics processor demand. Render Network bridges those requiring computational power with providers willing to monetize their hardware.
Akash Network (AKT) Akash Network functions as a distributed cloud infrastructure platform. Software developers can secure processing capacity through an open marketplace, frequently at more competitive rates than conventional cloud vendors including Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud Platform.
As artificial intelligence enterprises require additional computational infrastructure, decentralized solutions like Akash are attracting increased recognition. Though currently modest relative to entrenched cloud providers, the project has witnessed rising investor engagement.
Is AI Crypto Investment Worthwhile? AI-focused cryptocurrency ventures present elevated risk profiles compared to more mature digital assets. Numerous projects remain in nascent developmental phases, competitive pressures are substantial, and market dynamics can transform rapidly.
Long-term-oriented investors should prioritize projects demonstrating practical applications, sustained development activity, and expanding user adoption. Pursuing speculative short-term price fluctuations within this sector has proven historically hazardous.
The fusion of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology will likely persist as a dominant trend throughout upcoming years. Bittensor, Near Protocol, Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, Render Network, and Akash Network represent projects constructing foundational infrastructure for this emerging landscape.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
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.
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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.
Semiconductor stocks beat both Big Tech and crypto in the first half of 2026. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gained 102%, while the Magnificent Seven fell 2% and Bitcoin (BTC) lost 33%, according to Deutsche Bank and CoinGecko data.
Wall Street banks now disagree about the second half. Goldman Sachs expects investors to keep backing chipmakers, while Morgan Stanley argues the trade has already started to unwind.
How Semiconductors Beat Big Tech and Crypto in H1 2026Deutsche Bank’s half-year scoreboard ranked the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index as the best-performing major asset in the world. The benchmark gained 102% between January and June, according to a chart shared by Schaeffer’s Investment Research.
Korea’s chip-heavy KOSPI followed with an 89% gain, while Japan’s Nikkei added 35%. In contrast, the Nasdaq rose just 13% and the S&P 500 slightly under 10%.
The Magnificent Seven, the group that carried US markets for two years, ended the half 2% lower.
H1 2026 returns by asset, showing semiconductors beat Big Tech and crypto / Source: BeInCryptoCrypto fared even worse. Bitcoin slid 33% in the first half, falling from roughly $87,500 to below $59,000, CoinGecko data shows. Ether (ETH) dropped 47%, and Solana (SOL) fell 41%. Traditional hedges offered no shelter either, as gold slipped 7% and silver lost 18%.
ETF flows tell the same story. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF climbed 72%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF gained 99%, while the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF declined slightly.
Meanwhile, a shortage of memory and storage has led chipmakers to raise prices as the industry approaches $1 trillion in annual revenue.
SOX vs MAGS / Source: TradingviewGoldman Backs the Earners While Crypto Trades Like a SpenderGoldman Sachs derivatives specialist Brian Garrett explained the divergence in a client note last week, as reported by Stocktwits.
“One of the reasons for the decrease in Mag7 exposure seems almost too simple as it’s been hiding in plain sight for months. The market is rightly rewarding the names that earn (capex beneficiaries, semiconductors, etc) while at the same time questioning the names that spend (hyperscalers).”
Hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google pour hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers. Markets increasingly treat that spending as a cost without a proven payoff.
Meanwhile, companies that sell chips, memory, and equipment recognize revenue today.
That logic hits crypto hardest. Bitcoin earns nothing from the AI buildout, so it traded alongside the spenders rather than the earners. The pressure intensified after Michael Burry’s bubble warning sent memory stocks sliding this month.
The same split appeared inside the crypto market. Render (RNDR) gained 17%, and NEAR Protocol (NEAR) added 18% in the first half, while most majors fell over 30%, per CoinGecko. Both tokens sell exposure to computing power, the scarcest resource of this cycle. However, the pattern is not universal, as Bittensor (TAO) and Fetch.ai (FET) still declined.
H1 2026 crypto returns, AI compute tokens vs majors / Source: BeInCryptoBitcoin miners occupy the middle ground. Riot Platforms keeps selling BTC while funding its AI pivot, and rival miners chase similar data center deals.
Morgan Stanley Sees the Chip Trade TurningMorgan Stanley strategist Michael Wilson argued on Monday that chip momentum is fading as investors rotate toward hyperscalers, Bloomberg reported. The Philadelphia index has dropped almost 14% from its June record, though it remains 123% higher since September.
Cracks appeared before July. A blowout Micron forecast failed to sustain the rally, and the KOSPI triggered circuit breakers in June. Wilson, therefore, favors hyperscalers in the near term and expects them to soften spending plans.
JPMorgan strategist Mislav Matejka believes the rally will broaden beyond technology in the second half.
“AI is unlikely to be the only story in town.”
For crypto, this debate matters more than it appears. If capital exits the crowded chip trade and hunts laggards, Bitcoin ranks among the largest liquid laggards available. The token trades near $61,626 after a weekend short squeeze briefly lifted it toward $64,000.
Still, no major bank has named digital assets as the next rotation target. The coming weeks will show whether hyperscaler earnings confirm the turn, and whether any freed capital finds its way back to crypto.
Key Takeaways NEAR Protocol focuses on “chain abstraction” technology that eliminates blockchain complexity for end users The NEAR Intents framework enables users to specify desired outcomes while solvers compete to execute requests On-chain metrics show genuine usage, though activity levels remain moderate relative to leading blockchain platforms Token economics have strengthened through reduced inflation and enhanced fee structures, despite lacking a fixed supply ceiling Competitive landscape extends beyond traditional Layer 1 blockchains to include middleware solutions and wallet providers NEAR Protocol has positioned itself distinctly from the typical high-throughput blockchain narrative. Rather than emphasizing speed and low costs alone, the platform concentrates on chain abstraction — enabling seamless interaction across multiple blockchain networks without exposing users to underlying technical complexity.
NEAR Price This positioning establishes a unique value proposition that differentiates NEAR from conventional Layer 1 competitors.
The fundamental challenge NEAR addresses is blockchain ecosystem fragmentation. Users currently navigate disparate networks, each requiring specific wallets, bridging solutions, and infrastructure. NEAR’s approach aims to abstract away this complexity for both users and application developers.
Understanding the NEAR Intents Architecture Central to this abstraction vision is the NEAR Intents mechanism. Rather than requiring users to manually orchestrate cross-chain asset movements, the system allows users to declare their desired end state. Solvers then compete to deliver optimal execution pathways.
This architecture resembles an internet protocol layer more than conventional blockchain infrastructure. Successful implementation at scale could provide NEAR with meaningful differentiation in an increasingly competitive sector.
Additionally, NEAR has expanded into AI agent infrastructure, developing frameworks that enable autonomous agents to orchestrate multi-chain operations. This strategic direction aligns NEAR with two rapidly growing sectors within cryptocurrency.
Evaluating Token Value Accrual Mechanisms The critical consideration for NEAR token holders centers on whether the platform’s vision translates into token demand. Currently, protocol-level fee generation remains relatively limited. Stablecoin liquidity shows presence but hasn’t achieved dominance. Decentralized exchange volume demonstrates activity without reaching top-tier status.
This distinction matters significantly because sustainable token appreciation typically requires demonstrable, ongoing demand driven by authentic network economic activity.
NEAR’s token economics have evolved positively. While circulating supply remains substantial, inflation rates have decreased, and fee capture mechanisms have improved compared to earlier iterations. However, NEAR lacks Bitcoin’s hard supply cap model. Consequently, long-term demand must originate from genuine platform utilization.
Navigating a Crowded Competitive Environment [[LINK_START_2]]NEAR[[LINK_END_2]] faces competition extending beyond traditional smart contract platforms like Ethereum or Solana. The project competes simultaneously with specialized middleware protocols, solver networks, and wallet infrastructure providers — all addressing similar user experience challenges.
This multi-dimensional competitive landscape creates broader challenges than typical Layer 1 competition. NEAR must succeed across numerous vectors simultaneously.
The token’s already-substantial circulating supply indicates investors aren’t entering at an early-stage valuation. Current market capitalization reflects an established project with expectations already incorporated into pricing.
Presently, NEAR represents a platform with defined product strategy, enhanced token economics, and genuine but moderate blockchain activity.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) faces weakness on Monday, reversing from a key overhead trendline near $2.00. Retail demand is easing, with NEAR futures Open Interest and funding rates waning, which sparked the previous week’s rebound. The technical outlook for NEAR Protocol raises concerns about a steeper decline, with focus on the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) support at around $1.97.
Speculations surrounding NEAR easeNEAR Protocol derivatives data shows a gradual decline in the renewed retail support it gained last week. CoinGlass data shows the NEAR futures Open Interest (OI) has edged lower to $433 million over the last 24 hours, reflecting a mild closing up of positions as price consolidation near key resistance reduces risk appetite of leveraged traders.
At the same time, the funding rate has dropped to 0.0031% on Monday, from 0.0120% on Friday, reaffirming an easing of risk appetite among traders, who are holding long positions at a premium.
NEAR derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassNEAR struggles for a bullish breakoutNEAR token edges lower on Monday, from an overhead trendline connecting the highs of June 4 and 16, near $2.00. The DeFi token holds above the 200-day EMA at $1.78 and tests its 50-day EMA around $1.97, which supports the intraday pullback.
A slip below the 50-day EMA at $1.97 would open the downside toward the 200-day EMA at $1.78, near a descending support trendline at $1.70, where buyers could step in to regain control.
Momentum on the daily chart is neutral to bullish near-term, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 49 hinting at neutral momentum. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) rises above its signal line as positive histograms expand, indicating mild recovery in trend momentum.
NEAR/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, a break above the downward-sloping trendline near $2.00 could unlock further gains toward the previous swing high near $2.56, followed by the June 4 high of $2.85.
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
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
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 $472 million in the last 24 hours. The 4-hour futures OI on Binance, OKX, and Bybit climbed more than 6%, 5%, 5.50% respectively.
If you’re looking to earn passive income with crypto, check out our 8 proven ways to earn passive income in July 2026.
NEAR Protocol Deploys Upgrade 2.13 on TestnetNEAR Protocol ($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
In March, Google issued a warning that future quantum computers could compromise the cryptography protecting Bitcoin [BTC].
The warning rattled the market, and more protocols are taking serious measures to prepare for such risks. NEAR Protocol [NEAR] is the latest chain moving to address these quantum vulnerabilities.
NEAR Protocol’s new upgrade goes live! After many years in the making, NEAR Protocol’s upgrade 2.13 went live on testnet and included two major upgrades. The upgrade introduced post-quantum-safe access keys using the NIST-approved FIPS-204 signing scheme.
The upgrade aims to boost account security and defend against cryptographic threats. As such, the upgrade adds FIPS-204, a NIST-approved signature scheme designed not only to repel but also to withstand any quantum attack.
Secondly, it introduced dynamic resharding, ensuring that the protocol scales automatically with demand. As the shard fills with state, it splits to distribute it, thus eliminating the need for an upgrade. To achieve this feat, Near Protocol will work together with Ledger to align hardware security for the quantum era.
How did the market react? As expected, the upgrade incentivized market participants to return. On the spot, for instance, buyers displaced sellers for the first time in five days.
On the 1st of July, the Buy Volume rose to 16.8 million while Sell Volume also jumped to 16.5 million. As a result, the market saw a positive delta of 200k.
Source: Coinalyze The same trend continued on the 2nd of July, with a positive delta of 500k. A positive delta signaled renewed market demand.
On the derivatives side, speculators also rushed to the market. According to CoinGlass, Derivatives Volume climbed 19% to $475 million, while Open Interest (OI) rose 7.5% to $409 million as of writing.
Source: Coinglass With OI and volume rising in tandem, it suggested that investors rushed to position themselves, driven by upgrade news.
What’s next for NEAR? News of the 2.13 protocol upgrade sparked a sharp bullish run for NEAR. After a period of decline, the altcoin reversed course, held support at $1.70, and then climbed to $1.92.
At the time of writing, NEAR traded at $1.91, up 5.4% on the daily charts. Over the same period, the altcoin’s volume jumped 16%, signaling increased market participation.
Source: TradingView Notably, the NEAR’s momentum strengthened as the Daily Relative Strength Index formed a bullish crossover, rising to 46. At the same time, the +DI of DMI climbed to 19, confirming growing momentum. Taken together, these two indicators point towards the likelihood of a strong upside ahead.
If current demand holds, RSI could flip above 50, validate the trend, and push NEAR toward reclaiming the $2 resistance. In that case, $2.5 would become the next immediate barrier. However, if the move proves speculative and fades quickly, the altcoin could retreat toward $1.70.
Final Summary NEAR Protocol’s 2.13 upgrade went live on testnet, introducing post-quantum-safe access keys using the NIST-approved FIPS-204 signing scheme. NEAR surged 5.4%, held $1.7, and jumped to $.92, as speculative demand returned in the market.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Kalshi has added perpetual futures contracts for Zcash ($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
TLDR Arizona advanced Senate Bill 1649 to a full House floor vote after clearing the House Rules Committee. The bill would allow the state to create a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund. The proposal permits Arizona to retain seized cryptocurrencies instead of auctioning them. The legislation names XRP, Bitcoin, Monero, NEAR Protocol, and Nano as eligible assets. Lawmakers set criteria to assess adoption levels and transaction activity for reserve assets. Arizona lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 1649 to a full House vote after clearing the House Rules Committee. The proposal would allow Arizona to retain seized digital assets in a state-managed fund. The measure names XRP, Bitcoin, and Monero as eligible assets under defined standards.
Arizona Crypto Reserve Plan Names XRP as Eligible Asset The House Rules Committee approved SB1649 with eight votes in favor. As a result, the bill now heads to the full House for consideration. Lawmakers introduced the measure to create a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund. The proposal allows the state to keep digital assets obtained through forfeiture or surrender. Currently, agencies auction most seized cryptocurrencies.
State Senator Mark Finchem introduced SB1649 earlier this session. The Senate Finance Committee passed the bill with a 4–2–1 vote. Lawmakers set criteria to determine which assets qualify for the reserve. The criteria review adoption rates, annual transaction volume, and ecosystem development. The bill lists XRP, Bitcoin, Monero, NEAR Protocol, and Nano as eligible assets.
The proposal authorizes the State Treasurer to manage the reserve fund. The Treasurer may invest holdings to generate returns for the state. However, the bill requires that investment actions do not increase financial risk. Lawmakers included this provision to guide fund management practices.
If the House approves SB1649, the bill will move to the governor’s desk. The governor may sign the measure into law or veto it. Lawmakers placed the bill on the House calendar following the committee vote.
Bitcoin and Monero Included in Arizona Reserve Framework SB1649 identifies Bitcoin as a primary digital asset for the reserve. Lawmakers also included Monero under the eligibility framework. The bill groups these assets with XRP under a defined fair value threshold. This threshold evaluates economic strength and technical performance.
Under the measure, Arizona may retain cryptocurrencies received through legal processes. Agencies would transfer those assets to the reserve fund instead of auctioning them. The Treasurer would then oversee storage and management of the holdings. Lawmakers structured the bill to formalize how the state handles digital assets.
The legislation forms part of broader digital asset discussions in Arizona. Lawmakers are also considering Senate Bill 1042. That proposal would allow the state to invest up to 10% of public funds in cryptocurrencies. SB1042 remains under review in the state legislature.
At the federal level, digital asset reserves have also entered policy debates. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The order also created a broader digital asset stockpile framework. Lawmakers referenced these developments during state discussions.
The House will now determine the fate of SB1649 in a floor vote. If members approve the measure, it will proceed to final executive consideration. The legislative process continues as scheduled in the current session.
