NEAR Protocol PriceNEAR

As of July 24, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant developments across various sectors, including legislative advancements, market dynamics, and institutional activities.

Legislative Developments

The U.S. Congress has recently passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), marking a pivotal moment in cryptocurrency regulation. This legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for stablecoins, requiring them to be backed one-to-one by U.S. dollars or other low-risk assets. The act aims to enhance transparency and consumer protection by mandating regular audits and compliance with anti-money laundering laws. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on July 18, 2025, signaling a significant step toward integrating digital assets into the mainstream financial system.

In addition to the GENIUS Act, the House passed the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, effectively prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing or piloting a central bank digital currency (CBDC) without direct congressional approval. This move reflects growing concerns over privacy and governmental overreach in financial transactions.

Market Performance

The cryptocurrency market has responded positively to these regulatory developments. Bitcoin (BTC) has reached an all-time high, trading above $123,000. This surge is attributed to increased institutional investment and the establishment of clearer regulatory frameworks. Ethereum (ETH) has also seen substantial gains, trading at approximately $3,600, bolstered by growing adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Altcoins are experiencing a notable rally, often referred to as "altcoin season." For instance, Solana (SOL) is priced at $188.86, despite a slight decrease of 5.5% over the past 24 hours. XRP is trading at $3.25, down 8.9% in the same period. Cardano (ADA) is priced at $0.8152, reflecting a 6.9% decrease over 24 hours. These movements indicate a dynamic market where investors are diversifying their portfolios beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Institutional Involvement

Institutional interest in cryptocurrencies continues to grow. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen record inflows, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) becoming the fastest ETF to surpass $80 billion in assets under management. This influx of institutional capital has been a significant driver behind Bitcoin's recent price surge.

In a strategic move, Bhutan's sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding & Investments, sold over $59 million worth of Bitcoin, capitalizing on the cryptocurrency's historic price run. Despite this sale, Bhutan retains over 11,400 BTC, valued at more than $1.4 billion, underscoring the nation's commitment to integrating digital assets into its economic strategy.

Global Perspectives

Internationally, countries are adopting varied approaches to cryptocurrency regulation and adoption. South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced plans to recognize crypto-related businesses as venture companies, granting them access to significant government benefits, including tax cuts and real estate acquisition tax relief. This policy shift aims to foster innovation and integrate digital assets into the nation's startup ecosystem.

Conversely, Germany's recent sale of 49,858 bitcoins at an average price of $57,900 resulted in a loss of approximately $2.98 billion, as current prices approach $117,000. This highlights the complexities and risks associated with governmental management of digital assets.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market is at a transformative juncture, influenced by legislative actions, market dynamics, and institutional participation. The passage of the GENIUS Act and other regulatory measures in the U.S. provide a clearer framework for digital assets, potentially fostering greater adoption and stability. However, the market remains volatile, with significant price fluctuations and varying international approaches to regulation. Investors are advised to stay informed and exercise caution in this rapidly evolving landscape.

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain platform designed to provide a user-friendly and scalable environment for decentralized applications (dApps). By implementing innovative technologies such as sharding and focusing on developer and user experience, NEAR aims to address the limitations faced by earlier blockchain networks.

Founding and Development History

Founded in 2017 by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov, NEAR Protocol began as a project focused on machine learning before transitioning to blockchain development. The mainnet was launched in 2020, introducing a sharded architecture to enhance scalability. In 2021, the protocol implemented the initial phase of its sharding solution, Nightshade, dividing the network into four shards to increase throughput. Subsequent phases have continued to refine and expand this architecture.

Technological Innovations

NEAR's core innovation lies in its Nightshade sharding mechanism, which partitions the blockchain into multiple shards, each processing its own transactions and smart contracts. This design allows the network to handle a higher volume of transactions concurrently, significantly improving scalability. The protocol also emphasizes usability, offering human-readable account names and a web-based wallet that simplifies the onboarding process for new users.

Ecosystem and Adoption

The NEAR ecosystem has experienced substantial growth, with over 700 projects built or migrated to the platform in the past year. Notable applications include KaiKai and Hot Protocol, which have contributed to the network reaching 1.4 million daily active users. Despite this user engagement, the total value locked (TVL) in NEAR's DeFi platforms has seen a decline, indicating challenges in capital retention within the ecosystem.

Financial Overview

As of July 24, 2025, NEAR Protocol's native token, NEAR, is trading at $2.68, reflecting a decrease of $0.26 from the previous close. The token's intraday high reached $2.94, with a low of $2.60. In April 2022, NEAR secured $350 million in funding from prominent investors, including Three Arrows Capital, Tiger Global, and Andreessen Horowitz. However, the subsequent liquidation of Three Arrows Capital's assets, including 13.9 million NEAR tokens, has impacted the token's market dynamics.

Strategic Initiatives and Future Roadmap

NEAR is actively pursuing several strategic initiatives to enhance its platform:

• User-Owned AI: The establishment of the NEAR.AI R&D Lab aims to develop AI applications that are accessible and composable across the broader blockchain landscape, positioning NEAR at the forefront of decentralized AI research.

• Sharding Enhancements: The protocol plans to implement stateless validation and dynamic resharding to further improve scalability and network efficiency.

• Interoperability: Integrations with platforms like Chainlink and the introduction of the Aurora EVM layer facilitate cross-chain functionality and attract a broader developer base.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its advancements, NEAR faces several challenges:

• Competition: The blockchain space is highly competitive, with established platforms like Ethereum and Solana offering similar functionalities.

• Monetization: The protocol has generated only $4.1 million in fees year-to-date, indicating a need to enhance its monetization strategies.

• Regulatory Risks: As with all blockchain projects, NEAR must navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, which could impact its operations and adoption.

Conclusion

NEAR Protocol stands out for its commitment to scalability, user experience, and innovative technologies like sharding and user-owned AI. While it has achieved significant milestones and attracted a growing user base, the platform must address challenges related to competition, monetization, and regulatory compliance to sustain its growth and solidify its position in the blockchain ecosystem.