Should You Buy NEAR Protocol in 2025?

NEAR Protocol in brief

How much does 1 NEAR Protocol cost?

The price of NEAR Protocol is up this week. As of today, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) trades at AED 9.40, reflecting a 24-hour increase of +6.18% and a strong +11.0% gain over the past seven days. NEAR’s current market cap stands at AED 11.42 billion, with an average 3-month daily trading volume of around AED 605 million. The protocol is ranked #33 by market capitalization, with 1.22 billion NEAR in circulation, representing about 0.28% of the total crypto market. With such volatility and dynamic potential, NEAR continues to attract attention from investors seeking growth opportunities in the UAE’s evolving digital asset landscape.

Our full review of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency

Have the recent advances in AI-native blockchains and the evolving market structure around NEAR Protocol gone unnoticed amid the cryptocurrency rally? Leveraging three years of NEAR Protocol’s performance data, our proprietary algorithms synthesize on-chain analytics, technical indicators, and sector competition to decipher actionable trends. So, why might NEAR Protocol re-emerge in 2025 as a strategic point of entry for investors betting on the next-generation AI-empowered Layer 1 ecosystems?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Evolution

NEAR Protocol’s price has recently sharpened its upward trajectory, trading at $2.56 USD as of June 3, 2025—a surge of +65% over the past year, and +11% on the week. After a prolonged consolidation through 2023 and H1 2024, NEAR has begun to break away from its cyclical lows, fueled by both sector rotation into “AI chain” narratives and steadily improving adoption dynamics.

The 24-hour trading range ($2.40–$2.58) places NEAR above critical support levels established earlier this year, while the 6-month price rise (+8.8%) confirms a gradual restoration of investor confidence. The token’s market capitalization now stands at $3.12B, with an average daily volume exceeding $165M—solidifying NEAR’s liquidity profile and ensuring efficient price discovery.

Positive Developments

• May 2025 Mainnet Upgrade: Block times cut to 600ms, with network finality now at 1.2 seconds—clear leaps ahead in UX/DeFi performance.
• Strategic AI Partnerships: Collaboration with NVIDIA and the launch of confidential, decentralized AI modules has positioned NEAR in the vanguard of Web3+AI solutions.
• Institutional Support: Renewed venture capital interest, with key infrastructure funding round and growing support from a16z, Circle, and Tiger Global.
• Ecosystem Growth: Expansion across DeFi and cross-chain applications, notably through KyberNetwork integrations, marks NEAR’s maturation into a multi-vertical Layer 1.

Favorable Macro Environment

• Ongoing institutional rotation toward digital assets in the AE region.
• Increased regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions.
• Surge in global developer activity, particularly in decentralized AI and modular chains.

Technical Analysis

Key Crypto Indicators

• RSI (14D): 41.72—skewed neutral, leaving significant upside for trend expansion without signaling overbought exhaustion.
• Support Levels: $2.20–$2.40; accumulation zones where volumes notably increased, with repeated defense during recent volatility.
• Resistance Levels: $2.50–$2.74; the current price action has breached initial resistance, opening space for accelerated bullish continuation.
• Trend Formation: Daily and weekly charts confirm a break from long-term downtrend, with an emerging symmetrical triangle indicative of volatility compression and a likely breakout scenario.

Bullish Signals

• Broad-based market structure transitioning from accumulation to expansion.
• Uptick in on-chain activity and staking participation.
• Technical momentum suggests the path of least resistance is upward in the short-to-mid term, with $3.33 USD (top of range) as a plausible near-term target.

Fundamental Analysis

Rising Adoption and Strategic Partnerships

• User/Developer Growth: Over 800 active developers, 300+ live projects and one of the fastest-growing dApps ecosystems, especially in the AI, gaming, and DeFi verticals.
• Strategic Partneships: Deep integrations with actors such as KyberNetwork and DWF Labs, as well as collaborative frameworks with NVIDIA, signify NEAR’s differentiated approach to composable, scalable blockchain infrastructure.
• Tokenomics: NEAR offers a stable 5% annual inflation with highly attractive staking yields of 7-8%. Moreover, 70% of transaction fees are burned, imparting a potent deflationary counterweight for long-term holders, especially stakers.
• Network Effect: Millions of daily transactions, high throughput, and finality times that rival leading Layer 1s contribute to NEAR’s practical utility and user retention.

Market Valuation

• Market Cap Rank: #33, yet NEAR delivers innovations comparable to top-10 chains, suggesting relative undervaluation versus direct Layer 1 and AI-theme competitors.
• Volume/Liquidity: $165M+ daily trading volume and broad CEX/DEX support foster institutional-grade liquidity.
• Backers: Endorsement from prominent funds boosts both institutional credibility and resource allocation for further expansion.

Structural Strengths

• Technology Leadership: Founding team (including “Attention Is All You Need” paper co-author Illia Polosukhin) ensures world-class AI-native blockchain R&D.
• Differentiation: NEAR’s architecture—especially sharding (Nightshade 2.0), Chain Signatures, and abstraction capabilities—stands out for future-proofing against scalability and UX constraints.
• Community Resilience: Robust developer, validator, and governance ecosystems ensure long-term composability and adaptability in evolving markets.

Trading Volume and Liquidity

• Sustained High Turnover: Persistent $100-$200M average daily trading volume evidences growing market confidence and ensures NEAR’s inclusion in institutionally managed crypto indices.
• Global Accessibility: Listing on all major platforms (Binance, Coinbase, OKX, etc.) further reinforces capital inflow potential.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Major Upcoming Catalysts

• IA-Blockchain Convergence: NEAR’s first-mover advantage in “blockchain for AI” unlocks a unique market narrative as enterprise and Web3 AI adoption accelerates through 2026.
• Protocol Upgrades: Expected rollout of Nightshade 2.0 and Chain Signatures—critical for both scaling and cross-chain composability—positions NEAR as a central interoperability hub.
• Institutional Adoption: Funding rounds and ecosystem grants announced for 2025 will drive further developer and end-user migration.
• Regulatory Landscape: The positive regulatory evolution across AE countries supports compliant adoption paths and decreases existential risk.

Ecosystem Growth

• DeFi expansion: Cross-chain NEAR Intents and integrated dApps continue to drive new TVL inflows.
• NFTs and Gaming: Next-gen AI-powered gaming and media applications expected to debut Q4 2025–Q1 2026.
• Interoperability: Chain abstraction and native cross-bridgeless swaps unlock deeper liquidity integration across the broader Web3 universe.

Investment Strategies (By Horizon)

Short-Term (Weeks–Months)

Technical structure indicates potential for mean-reversion trades from support ($2.40) towards resistance ($2.74+). Swing entries on high-volume retests offer asymmetric upside even in choppy environments.

Medium-Term (6–18 Months)

Participation ahead of protocol upgrades and expanded AI/NFT launches magnifies potential reward. A technical breakout coupled with rising TVL and developer commits enhances narrative momentum in this horizon.

Long-Term (2–5 Years)

NEAR’s structural innovation, global partnerships, and emerging market positioning within the “AI + Modular Blockchain” megatrend justify patient capital. Accumulation strategies on technical pullbacks or ahead of major funding and mainnet milestones seem well suited for risk-tolerant, conviction-driven investors.

Positioning Guidance

For both institutional and savvy individual investors, structured accumulation on liquidity-rich support levels—or strategic front-running of upcoming protocol events—seems to represent an excellent opportunity. NEAR’s current valuation, versus its technical backbone and ecosystem growth rate, supports renewed interest across both primary and secondary AE market segments.

NEAR Protocol Price Predictions

Is Now the Right Time to Consider NEAR Protocol?

• NEAR Protocol combines an AI-native architecture with institutional-grade scalability—a rare combination in today’s blockchain sector.
• The protocol’s May 2025 technical upgrades deliver state-of-the-art throughput and finality, outpacing most Layer 1 competitors.
• An active, globally recognized developer ecosystem and first-mover advantage in decentralized AI applications.
• Market dynamics show consistent volume and liquidity, underpinned by an expanding pipeline of partnerships, protocol upgrades, and adoption narratives.
• Relative undervaluation implies substantial rerating potential should the AI + blockchain convergence thesis play out as anticipated.

The optimistic projections reflect a structural transformation rather than a short-lived rally; NEAR Protocol could well be entering a new expansion phase. With fundamentals that justify renewed investor attention—and clear catalysts ahead—NEAR Protocol seems to represent an excellent opportunity for those seeking exposure to next-generation blockchain infrastructure. As always, maintaining disciplined risk management remains crucial as NEAR’s high volatility continues to offer dynamic investment windows. The upcoming Nightshade 2.0 and protocol enhancements, combined with the ongoing evolution of the decentralized AI marketplace, could prove decisive in shaping NEAR Protocol’s role as a leading digital asset over the next cycle.

How to buy NEAR Protocol?

It’s easy and secure to buy NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency online using a regulated platform. Individual investors have two main choices: spot purchase (owning the actual coins stored in your digital wallet) or trading NEAR via crypto CFDs (Contracts For Difference), which lets you speculate on price movements without owning the asset. Each method suits different strategies and experience levels. Discover the key differences in detail below, and scroll further down for a comprehensive platform comparison to help you choose the best provider for your needs.

Spot Purchase

A spot purchase means you buy and own real NEAR Protocol coins, stored safely in your crypto wallet. The process is straightforward: you buy NEAR at its market price, and the tokens become your property to hold, spend, or transfer as you wish. Typical costs include a fixed commission per trade, usually charged in your local currency (AED in the UAE), plus a minor service fee.

Example

If NEAR Protocol is priced at $2.56 (approx. 9.40 AED) per coin, a 1,000 AED purchase (about $272) can buy around 106 NEAR coins, factoring in an estimated 20 AED (~$5) transaction fee.

Gain scenario: If NEAR’s price rises by 10%, your portfolio is now worth 1,100 AED.

Result: +100 AED gross profit, or +10% on your investment.

CFD Trading

Trading NEAR via CFDs means you don’t own the actual tokens. Instead, you take a position on NEAR’s price direction using a contract with your broker. This method lets you apply leverage, so you can access bigger market exposure with a smaller deposit, but it involves more risk and is best for experienced traders. Fees include the spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and a daily ‘overnight’ financing cost if you keep your position open after market hours.

Example

You open a NEAR CFD position with 1,000 AED and a 5x leverage—your total exposure is now 5,000 AED.

Gain scenario: NEAR rises by 8%; your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.

Result: +400 AED gain on your initial 1,000 AED (before fees).

Final Advice

It is essential to compare the fees, features, and security of each platform before investing—costs and conditions can vary widely. Whether you choose to own NEAR Protocol via direct purchase or trade its price via CFDs, your decision should reflect your financial goals and your experience with crypto investing. For help choosing the most suitable platform, consult our detailed comparison tool available further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying NEAR Protocol

The latest news about the NEAR Protocol

NEAR Protocol has seen a strong price surge, gaining 11% in the last week with robust trading volume. Over the past seven days, NEAR’s price advanced to $2.56, with daily volumes averaging $165 million and a one-week gain of 11%, which contrasts positively with the broader market. The positive momentum is reinforced by a technical pattern break-out from a long-term bearish trend and sustained accumulation signals near the $2.40 support level, suggesting confidence among investors and traders. This robust surge is of particular interest to MENA investors, where increased trading activity has been noted on global platforms accessible locally, such as Binance and OKX, both regulatory-compliant in the region.

NEAR Protocol recently upgraded its mainnet, delivering sub-second finality and enhanced scalability for decentralized AI applications. A mainnet upgrade implemented in mid-May reduced block times to 600 milliseconds and achieved transaction finality in 1.2 seconds, a significant boost for high-frequency trading and large-scale dApps. These developments strengthen NEAR's positioning as the premier blockchain for AI integration—a technology focus that resonates strongly in the AE, where government-backed initiatives such as the UAE's National Program for Artificial Intelligence actively promote AI adoption within the financial sector and beyond.

Strategic expansion in AI-related blockchain technology, including the NVIDIA partnership, positions NEAR as a regional innovation leader. The confidential AI development partnership with NVIDIA and focused funding for decentralized AI infrastructure reinforce NEAR’s appeal among Gulf-region investors, many of whom are seeking exposure to frontier technologies. The MENA region’s strategic push towards digital transformation and "Smart City" initiatives aligns closely with NEAR’s stated goal of delivering highly scalable, privacy-centric data processing for Internet-of-Things (IoT) and AI-powered DeFi in both the public and financial sectors.

NEAR Protocol’s ecosystem growth and DeFi integration continue to accelerate, building sustainable value for regional stakeholders. The ecosystem now exceeds 300 live projects and claims over 800 active developers, making it a credible hub for decentralized innovation. Integrated with key DeFi protocols and enhanced cross-chain functionality via KyberNetwork, NEAR is increasingly accessible to AE web3 entrepreneurs and institutional investors. The growing developer community and the network’s inclusion in top global exchanges creates a favorable environment for regional adoption and potential partnership with local blockchain accelerators and sandboxes.

Market sentiment and analyst consensus remain bullish, with optimistic price targets and a high trust score on major platforms. Current community sentiment is solidly bullish (86% positive), and analyst projections set near-term price targets in the $5–$10 range, with even higher prospects longer term should AI-related adoption accelerate. NEAR’s high ranking on CoinMarketCap and institutional backing from firms like a16z and Circle further reassure investors in the AE, especially amid regulatory clarity and increasing interest in compliant, transparent blockchain solutions.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.