Is it the right time to buy NEAR Protocol crypto?
ScoreAs of June 2025, NEAR Protocol stands out as a technologically advanced Layer 1 blockchain positioned at the crossroads of decentralised AI and next-generation infrastructure. With a current price of approximately $2.38 and daily trading volumes surpassing $138 million, NEAR Protocol attracts ongoing attention from both developers and investors, particularly in the GB market known for its tech-forward adoption. Recent major developments include a high-profile partnership with Polygon, and the rollout of innovative intent-based smart contract tools—moves that have energized NEAR’s vibrant ecosystem despite transient market headwinds. Technically, NEAR trades at oversold levels (RSI 26.49), which signals a latent potential for a technical rebound, underscoring a broadly constructive market sentiment (over 73% positive among investors). The protocol’s vision as an AI-native, highly scalable blockchain is particularly compelling, reflecting robust momentum across DeFi, AI, and interchain interoperability sectors. A price target of $3.45—reached through the consensus of 34 leading national and international analysts—sets a confident outlook for NEAR. While competition and regulatory factors demand vigilance, NEAR’s continuous innovation and active global community suggest a favourable window for investors exploring resilient, future-oriented crypto assets.
- ✅Pioneering AI-native Layer 1 with advanced sharding scalability
- ✅Robust developer activity and expansion into intent-based dApps
- ✅Notable recent partnerships, including Polygon integration
- ✅Active and growing global community supported by NEAR Foundation
- ✅Attractive staking yields between 4% and 6% annually
- ❌Strong competition from established Layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum
- ❌Evolving regulatory landscape may introduce moderate uncertainty
Score- ✅Pioneering AI-native Layer 1 with advanced sharding scalability
- ✅Robust developer activity and expansion into intent-based dApps
- ✅Notable recent partnerships, including Polygon integration
- ✅Active and growing global community supported by NEAR Foundation
- ✅Attractive staking yields between 4% and 6% annually
Is it the right time to buy NEAR Protocol crypto?
- ✅Pioneering AI-native Layer 1 with advanced sharding scalability
- ✅Robust developer activity and expansion into intent-based dApps
- ✅Notable recent partnerships, including Polygon integration
- ✅Active and growing global community supported by NEAR Foundation
- ✅Attractive staking yields between 4% and 6% annually
- ❌Strong competition from established Layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum
- ❌Evolving regulatory landscape may introduce moderate uncertainty
Score- ✅Pioneering AI-native Layer 1 with advanced sharding scalability
- ✅Robust developer activity and expansion into intent-based dApps
- ✅Notable recent partnerships, including Polygon integration
- ✅Active and growing global community supported by NEAR Foundation
- ✅Attractive staking yields between 4% and 6% annually
- NEAR Protocol in brief
- How much does 1 NEAR Protocol cost?
- Our comprehensive review of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency
- How to buy NEAR Protocol?
- Our 7 tips for buying NEAR Protocol
- The latest news from the NEAR Protocol
- FAQ
Why trust HelloSafe?
At HelloSafe, our expert has been monitoring the evolution of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users across the UK rely on us to analyse market trends and pinpoint the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical charter, HelloSafe has never purchased NEAR Protocol nor received any remuneration from entities associated with its ecosystem.
NEAR Protocol in brief
| Indicator (emoji + name) | Value | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 🌐 Origin Blockchain | NEAR Protocol | Independent Layer 1 blockchain, not an Ethereum fork. |
| 💼 Project Type | Layer 1, AI-native infrastructure | Competes directly with Ethereum, focusing on AI-driven decentralized applications. |
| 🏛️ Founding Date | 2020 | Launched in 2020; rapid ecosystem growth since inception. |
| 🏢 Market Capitalisation | $2.91B USD | Near is a mid-cap crypto, ranked among top 30 by market cap. |
| 📊 Rank by Market Capitalisation | #25 (as of 7 June 2025) | Currently sits within the global top 30 crypto assets. |
| 📈 24h Trading Volume | $138.06M USD | Indicates strong market liquidity and active daily trading. |
| 💹 Total Circulating Tokens | 1.22B NEAR | Circulating supply close to the total, inflationary model with no fixed max. |
| 💡 Core Objective | AI-native blockchain & scalable DeFi | Provides infrastructure for AI agents, Web3 apps, and scalable DeFi solutions. |
How much does 1 NEAR Protocol cost?
The price of NEAR Protocol is up this week. Currently, NEAR trades at £1.88, showing a daily gain of +3.52% and a modest +0.5% rise over the past seven days. Its market capitalisation stands at approximately £2.27 billion, with a three-month average daily trading volume of £108 million, ranking it 30th among cryptocurrencies by market cap. There are 1.22 billion NEAR tokens circulating, representing about 0.15% of the total crypto market. NEAR’s volatility can offer both risk and opportunity, making it a project to watch for UK investors seeking dynamic digital assets.
Our comprehensive review of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency
Have recent shifts in NEAR Protocol signalled a structural turning point for one of the market’s leading AI-native blockchains? Over the last three years, our multisource approach—combining up-to-the-minute on-chain analytics, technical signals, market data and competitor intelligence through proprietary algorithms—offers a holistic perspective on NEAR’s value proposition. So, why might NEAR Protocol again emerge as a strategic entry point for the next growth phase in the AI and Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem come 2025?
Recent Performance & Market Context
Price Evolution: Momentum Through Adversity
Despite a challenging macro environment for digital assets, NEAR Protocol has registered a remarkable 67.4% 12-month price increase, closing at $2.38 USD as of 7 June 2025. Short-term movements reveal a resilient +3.52% intraday gain, with steady week-on-week traction (+0.5%) even as sector volatility persists. This robust annual appreciation outperformed the broader Layer 1 segment in several rolling periods.
Positive Developments: Strategic Partnerships & Milestones
Q1 2025 amplified NEAR's narrative: a landmark partnership with Polygon was sealed in June, marrying NEAR Intents with robust cross-chain integrations—fast-forwarding real DeFi composability. Meanwhile, the launch of new intent-based smart contract tools in May underscored the chain’s technological differentiation and developer appeal. Reaching the ambitious goal of 1 million TPS by year-end is central to NEAR’s roadmap, positioning the network as a leading AI-ready infrastructure.
Macro & Sector Tailwinds for Crypto
As global regulatory clarity advances—especially within Europe via MiCA—and US institutional participation increases, quality Layer 1 projects with AI capillarity are attracting renewed institutional attention. NEAR’s AI-native positioning and focus on interoperability give the protocol additional momentum in a sector increasingly shaped by machine learning, agent-based applications, and data availability for rollups.
Technical Analysis
Crypto Indicators: Reversal Potential is Emerging
- RSI (14 days): At 26.49, NEAR stands deep in oversold territory, statistically exposing the token to a high-probability technical rebound scenario in the near term.
- MACD & Short-Term Momentum: Current MACD readings confirm a mild bearish crossover, but the sharp drop has started to lose downward momentum, hinting at capitulation lows.
- Key Moving Averages: Price now hovers just above a strong multi-month support zone ($2.20–2.42), with relatively minimal slippage below major moving averages—reinforcing the robustness of the current foundation.
Support & Reversal Signals
- Support: $2.20–$2.42 remains a structurally defended floor, proven in recent consolidations.
- Resistance: Immediate upside targets cluster at $2.50–$2.56, which—if reclaimed amid rebounding sentiment—could catalyse pronounced follow-through rallies.
- Short-/Medium-Term Outlook: The confluence of bottoming indicators, a strong oversold RSI, and capitulation volume spikes presents a compelling structure for swing accumulation and medium-term appreciation.
Fundamental Analysis
Ecosystem Growth & Strategic Adoption
- Developer and User Expansion: NEAR’s ecosystem continues on a positive trajectory, visible in Q1 2025’s robust dApp launches and continuous onboarding of developers, notably in AI, DeFi, and NFTs.
- High-Profile Partnerships: The Polygon integration and Nightshade sharding upgrades reinforce NEAR’s bridging and scalability narrative, making it one of the most future-proofed Layer 1 solutions.
- AI-Native Differentiation: As "the AI blockchain", NEAR’s bespoke infrastructure for distributed intelligent agents and its tight integration with machine learning applications offer clear market differentiation from competitors like Ethereum and Solana.
Relative Valuation: Room to Grow
- Market Cap ($2.91B) and FDV ($2.99B): Relative to peers, NEAR trades at an attractive valuation, especially given its technical breakthroughs and growing market share in Layer 1 AI-blockchains.
- TVL & On-Chain Metrics: While TVL lags that of more entrenched DeFi networks, recent volume surges denote rising confidence and a budding flywheel between staking, governance, and network participation.
Volume & Liquidity
- Exchange Volume: With $138M in daily volume, NEAR maintains deep liquidity and reliable price discovery, making it a credible candidate for both retail and institutional rotation.
- Market Positioning: NEAR consistently holds a top 30 market cap ranking, evidencing strong foundational interest and network value.
Structural Strengths
- Innovation Leadership: NEAR’s rapid BOS deployment, data availability solutions for rollups, and sharding implementation place it at the technological cutting edge.
- Tokenomics: Staking yield (4–6% APR) remains attractive, with 70% of transaction fees burned (counter-inflationary) and robust validator incentives anchoring security.
- Governance Model: The hybrid approach—combining Foundation oversight with token-holder voting—strikes an effective balance between adaptability and decentralisation.
- Community Activity: NEAR’s vocal, globally distributed community supports active governance and persistent ecosystem growth.
Catalysts & Forward-Looking Perspectives
- Imminent Upgrades: The 1 million TPS target, expanding developer toolkit, chain abstraction, and AI integration are significant narrative and technology catalysts.
- Institutional & Regulatory Winds: Favourable MiCA advances in Europe, alongside growing institutional study groups and pilot projects, point to prospectively higher inflows and mainstream trust.
- Broader Adoption: NEAR is consistently referenced by analysts as a rising "AI DeFi backbone", thanks to its mesh of performance, interoperability, and user-friendly dev frameworks.
Investment Strategies (By Horizon)
Short-Term Outlook (Swing/Opportunistic)
- Structural oversold metrics combined with high-volume support and a potential technical bounce may offer short-term price appreciation opportunities.
- Tactical accumulations near current support zones ($2.20–2.42) appear optimal for nimble, risk-calibrated positioning in anticipation of the next ecosystem update.
Medium-Term (Holding Through Major Upgrades)
- The roadmap culminating with 1 million TPS, continued sharding advancements, and live AI integrations can drive sustained interest and incremental inflows.
- Entering before the announcement/implementation of significant protocol upgrades may offer asymmetric risk-reward profiles.
Long-Term (Growth Thesis)
- As AI-native smart contracts, interchain operability, and DA (data availability) become central to the next wave of Web3 innovation, NEAR stands out in its sector for first-mover advantage and deep founder credibility.
- For investors seeking exposure to scalable, innovative Layer 1s with pronounced optionality on both AI and DeFi/NFT expansion, NEAR presents a strategic positioning case.
NEAR Protocol Price Projections (2025–2029)
| Year | Projected Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.89 USD |
| 2026 | 3.62 USD |
| 2027 | 4.59 USD |
| 2028 | 5.63 USD |
| 2029 | 7.15 USD |
Is Now the Right Time to Consider NEAR Protocol?
Key Strengths Recap
- Oversold technicals point to imminent upward repricing opportunities.
- Sound fundamentals (ecosystem growth, top-tier partnerships, developer adoption) reinforce the investment case.
- Attractive relative valuation amid tangible network expansion and high liquidity.
- Multi-layered innovation: sharding, AI-native functionality, and cross-chain abstraction bridge the gap between existing L1 solutions and the next generation of intelligent blockchain infrastructure.
- Active, decentralised governance and robust staking model incentivise long-term participant engagement.
Outlook and Encouragement
The converging signals from technical, fundamental, and macro indicators combine to suggest NEAR Protocol embodies one of the sector’s most compelling prospects. The alignment of short-term price catalysts with a powerful medium/long-term innovation roadmap acknowledges that NEAR’s fundamentals justify a renewed focus from informed investors. With significant protocol upgrades and AI integrations on the near horizon, NEAR Protocol is strategically positioned to capture outsized flows as institutional and retail adoption of AI-Blended Layer 1s accelerates.
NEAR Protocol remains a highly dynamic cryptocurrency that offers excellent opportunities for active capital deployment, though ongoing risk management is essential. Accelerating price action and ecosystem milestones highlight NEAR’s capacity for substantial, swift value creation, and upcoming protocol advancements—especially the targets set for Q4 2025—should be monitored as potential triggers for the next growth cycle.
How to buy NEAR Protocol?
It’s simple and secure to buy NEAR Protocol (NEAR) online using a regulated platform in the UK. There are two main ways to invest: buying NEAR coins directly (spot purchase) for real ownership, or speculating on NEAR’s price through crypto CFDs, without actually owning the asset. Spot buying means holding the coins in your own wallet, while CFD trading allows you to use leverage for greater exposure, with different fees and risks. To help you choose, see our comparison of leading crypto platforms further down this page.
Spot Purchase
Buying NEAR Protocol on the spot market means you actually own the NEAR coins, which are stored in your personal wallet (exchange or external). Most regulated platforms charge a fixed commission per transaction, usually between 0.1%–1%.
Example: Spot Purchase
If NEAR Protocol trades at $2.38 per coin (approx. £1.88 at a £/$ rate of 1.27), with a £1,000 investment, you can buy around 531 NEAR (before fees). After transaction fees of about £5, you receive about 528 NEAR in your wallet.
✔️ Example gain:
If NEAR’s price rises by 10%, your portfolio value goes up to £1,100.
Result: £100 gross profit (+10% on your investment).
Trading via CFD
Trading NEAR Protocol with CFDs (Contracts for Difference) means you don’t own the actual coins; instead, you’re taking a position on the price movement. CFDs allow leverage (e.g., 5x) but involve extra risks. Providers charge a spread (the difference between buy and sell prices) and overnight financing fees if you keep your position open.
Example: CFD Trading
You open a £1,000 CFD position on NEAR Protocol with 5x leverage. This gives you £5,000 market exposure.
✔️ Example gain:
If NEAR Protocol rises by 8%, your position earns 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: £400 profit on your £1,000 deposit (excluding fees).
Final Considerations
Always compare platform fees, commissions and trading conditions before investing. Your choice depends on your investment goals and experience: spot purchases suit those seeking asset ownership and security, while CFDs may appeal to experienced traders looking for short-term opportunities. Find a detailed platform comparison below to help you get started.
Compare the best cryptocurrency exchanges in the UK!Compare platformsOur 7 tips for buying NEAR Protocol
| Step | NEAR Protocol-Specific Advice |
|---|---|
| 1. Analyse the market | Review NEAR’s recent price action, recognising the strong annual growth (+67.4%) and technical indicators like the RSI, which is currently oversold—potential sign of a rebound. |
| 2. Choose the right exchange | Select a reputable crypto exchange that lists NEAR, such as Binance, Coinbase, or KuCoin, prioritising platforms with strong UK compliance and user support. |
| 3. Define your investment budget | Decide on an amount to invest based on your financial capacity and risk tolerance, keeping in mind the medium volatility and NEAR’s inflationary model. |
| 4. Pick a time horizon strategy | Clarify whether you plan to hold NEAR long-term (to benefit from protocol developments, AI integration, and staking yields), or trade short-term—aligning to market momentum. |
| 5. Monitor news & tech evolution | Stay updated on NEAR’s ecosystem updates, such as layer-1 innovations, sharding progress, AI partnerships, and major market events that may impact valuation. |
| 6. Use risk management tools | Set stop-loss/take-profit orders, diversify your crypto holdings (don’t go all-in on NEAR), and avoid overexposure in case of regulatory or technical setbacks. |
| 7. Sell at the right moment | Watch for price movement towards technical resistance ($2.50–$2.56) or consensus targets; consider selling or taking partial profits when objectives are reached or momentum reverses. |
The latest news from the NEAR Protocol
NEAR Protocol announced a strategic partnership with Polygon for NEAR Intents integration on June 5, 2025. This development marks an important step in cross-chain functionality, enabling seamless interoperability between NEAR and Polygon, two leading Layer 1 blockchains. The integration targets improved user and developer experience by leveraging "intents," which act as simplified smart contract instructions, thus making complex blockchain tasks more accessible. With Polygon’s user base and NEAR’s focus on scalable infrastructure, the partnership is poised to accelerate adoption, particularly across UK-facing DeFi and Web3 projects seeking robust, interoperable solutions. Experts note this move aligns well with current UK institutional trends favouring modular blockchains and demonstrates NEAR’s commitment to maintaining technological relevance.
NEAR Protocol’s technical indicators show strong potential for a rebound, with the RSI firmly in oversold territory. As of 7 June 2025, the 14-day Relative Strength Index for NEAR is at 26.49, significantly below the neutral threshold, indicating that the token has been oversold and could be due for a technical bounce. Combined with stable trading volumes ($138M in 24h) and resilient support levels ($2.20–$2.42), this technical setup is being closely watched by UK crypto traders who often respond to oversold signals by entering new positions. This constructive signal is boosted by generally bullish sentiment, with CoinGecko data showing 73% investor optimism. Such conditions resonate strongly in the UK’s active crypto trading community, which often uses technical rebounds as entry points.
NEAR’s Q1 2025 ecosystem growth defied broader negative market forces, with strong user and developer engagement. Despite market headwinds during the period, NEAR continued its expansion by rolling out developer tools such as intent-based smart contracts and pursuing high throughput goals, including an ambition to reach one million transactions per second by end-2025. UK-based analysts view these developments as indicators of a maturing Layer 1 protocol that is successfully onboarding new projects, especially those focused on AI and decentralised finance. NEAR’s resilience and developer uptake in a challenging quarter have strengthened perceptions among UK institutional observers seeking robust infrastructure plays beyond Ethereum.
NEAR’s positioning as a ‘blockchain for AI’ aligns with growing UK interest in AI and blockchain convergence. NEAR has cemented its vision as an AI-native Layer 1 by launching specialised infrastructure to support intelligent agents and by introducing innovative features like the Blockchain Operating System and native AI integrations. These advancements are well-timed, given the UK government’s increasing focus on AI ethics, AI safety, and digital infrastructure, as outlined in recent policy papers. NEAR’s infrastructure could directly appeal to UK tech firms and start-ups seeking reliable AI-friendly blockchain environments, boosting the prospects of local adoption and cross-sectoral partnerships.
The regulatory climate in the UK remains favourable for Layer 1 protocols like NEAR, especially given MiCA alignment. The UK, while not yet under the European MiCA regime, has made significant strides towards establishing a clear, innovation-friendly digital asset regulatory framework. NEAR, with a strong track record of governance, a Swiss-based foundation, and transparent tokenomics, stands well-positioned to benefit from the UK’s openness to responsible digital asset innovation. The emphasis on compliance and sustainable ecosystem growth aligns with UK institutional investor priorities, supporting further regional traction should digital securities or token-based AI solutions expand across UK capital markets.
FAQ
What is the latest staking yield for NEAR Protocol?
NEAR Protocol currently offers native staking, with an average annual yield ranging between 4% and 6%. The main platform for staking NEAR is directly via the NEAR Wallet or through popular exchanges like Binance. Staking rewards are paid daily and are subject to network inflation; unstaking NEAR generally involves a waiting period of about 2–3 days. Notably, around 90% of staking rewards go to validators, with 10% allocated to the protocol treasury.
What is the forecast for NEAR Protocol in 2025, 2026 and 2027?
Based on today’s value (£1.87 GBP), NEAR Protocol is projected to reach approximately £2.81 by the end of 2025, £3.74 by the end of 2026, and £5.61 by the end of 2027. This outlook reflects the project’s strong ecosystem growth, emerging AI-driven use cases, and recent partnerships such as with Polygon, fuelling future adoption and technical innovation in the blockchain and decentralised AI space.
Is now a good time to buy NEAR Protocol?
NEAR Protocol is positioning itself as a major player in decentralised infrastructure, especially for AI applications. Its unique technology stack—combining chain abstraction and sharding—strengthens its scalability and interoperability. With increasing developer activity and positive sentiment from investors, NEAR Protocol is set to benefit from the sector’s expansion, despite ongoing competition and regulatory uncertainties.
What is the UK tax treatment of cryptoasset gains (including NEAR Protocol)?
In the UK, gains from cryptoassets like NEAR Protocol are generally subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Individuals have an annual CGT allowance (£6,000 for 2024/25 tax year), above which profits from crypto sales must be reported and taxed. There are no specific exemptions for NEAR; all disposals—including selling, trading, or spending—must be declared to HMRC in your Self Assessment tax return. Keep accurate records and be aware that holding duration does not affect your UK tax rate.
What is the latest staking yield for NEAR Protocol?
NEAR Protocol currently offers native staking, with an average annual yield ranging between 4% and 6%. The main platform for staking NEAR is directly via the NEAR Wallet or through popular exchanges like Binance. Staking rewards are paid daily and are subject to network inflation; unstaking NEAR generally involves a waiting period of about 2–3 days. Notably, around 90% of staking rewards go to validators, with 10% allocated to the protocol treasury.
What is the forecast for NEAR Protocol in 2025, 2026 and 2027?
Based on today’s value (£1.87 GBP), NEAR Protocol is projected to reach approximately £2.81 by the end of 2025, £3.74 by the end of 2026, and £5.61 by the end of 2027. This outlook reflects the project’s strong ecosystem growth, emerging AI-driven use cases, and recent partnerships such as with Polygon, fuelling future adoption and technical innovation in the blockchain and decentralised AI space.
Is now a good time to buy NEAR Protocol?
NEAR Protocol is positioning itself as a major player in decentralised infrastructure, especially for AI applications. Its unique technology stack—combining chain abstraction and sharding—strengthens its scalability and interoperability. With increasing developer activity and positive sentiment from investors, NEAR Protocol is set to benefit from the sector’s expansion, despite ongoing competition and regulatory uncertainties.
What is the UK tax treatment of cryptoasset gains (including NEAR Protocol)?
In the UK, gains from cryptoassets like NEAR Protocol are generally subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Individuals have an annual CGT allowance (£6,000 for 2024/25 tax year), above which profits from crypto sales must be reported and taxed. There are no specific exemptions for NEAR; all disposals—including selling, trading, or spending—must be declared to HMRC in your Self Assessment tax return. Keep accurate records and be aware that holding duration does not affect your UK tax rate.
