Key Takeaways:
NEAR Protocol's 2.13 testnet upgrade introduces post-quantum-safe access keys, positioning the L1 as an early mover in quantum-resistant blockchain security.
NEAR Protocol rose 5.4% to $1.91 after its 2.13 testnet upgrade introduced post-quantum-safe access keys via the NIST-approved FIPS-204 signing scheme.
"Post-quantum cryptography is no longer a theoretical concern — it's a timeline we can see," a NEAR Foundation spokesperson said. "FIPS-204 ensures accounts remain secure even as quantum computing advances."
The upgrade also introduced dynamic resharding, allowing the protocol to automatically split shards as state grows without requiring a hard fork. NEAR is working with Ledger to align hardware security for the quantum era. The move follows a March warning from Google that future quantum computers could compromise the cryptography protecting Bitcoin.
On the market side, spot buy volume reached 16.8 million on July 1 against 16.5 million in sell volume, producing a positive delta of 200,000, according to Coinalyze. The delta widened to 500,000 on July 2. Derivatives volume climbed 19 percent to $475 million, while open interest rose 7.5 percent to $409 million, per CoinGlass.
The upgrade addresses a growing existential risk for the crypto industry. Microsoft's Majorana 2 quantum chip, unveiled at its Build conference, is 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor, with average qubit lifetimes of 20 seconds — a milestone that has accelerated post-quantum migration research across Ethereum and other networks. If NEAR's quantum-safe keys migrate from testnet to mainnet, the protocol could set a new security standard for L1 blockchains, attracting developer activity and institutional interest. The next resistance level sits at $2.00; a break above that opens the path to $2.50. Support holds at $1.70.
The FIPS-204 signature scheme, approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is designed to withstand attacks from sufficiently powerful quantum computers — a threat that Google's March warning framed as a matter of when, not if, for existing cryptographic standards. NEAR is among the first major L1 protocols to implement such a scheme at the account level.
The Relative Strength Index on the daily chart formed a bullish crossover, rising to 46, while the Directional Movement Index's positive directional indicator climbed to 19, confirming growing upward momentum. If demand holds and the RSI flips above 50, the trend could push NEAR toward reclaiming the $2 mark. A failure to hold momentum could see the token retreat toward $1.70.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
