Executive Summary

NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is exhibiting technical indicators suggesting a potential bullish breakout following a period of consolidation. The asset, which recently saw an 11.66% price increase, is currently trading at approximately $3.26 with a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $755 million, representing a 168.00% increase.

The Event in Detail

Technical analysis indicates that NEAR Protocol is poised for an upward price movement. The asset tested the $7.90 area in December 2024 and has since entered a consolidation phase. It is currently building momentum, appearing ready to break out of a bullish flat pattern. A sustained move above the $3 price point is anticipated to trigger a strong upward trend. Should this breakout occur, subsequent target levels are projected at $3.70, $4.70, $5.90, and $7.90. This technical setup follows a recent surge, where NEAR price increased by 11.66% in the last 24 hours and 19.83% over the past seven days.

Market Implications

The market sentiment surrounding NEAR Protocol is broadly bullish, with expectations of high volatility if the asset reaches its anticipated $3 breakout point. A successful breakout could lead to significant short-term gains for NEAR holders and increase trading volume, attracting further attention to the NEAR ecosystem. Conversely, a failure to break out could result in continued consolidation or downward price pressure. The recent 24-hour trading volume of $755,039,064 marks a 168.00% increase from the previous day, signaling a notable rise in market activity and trader interest. CoinUnited.io reported a trading volume exceeding $724 million USD, underscoring the heightened market engagement.

Expert Commentary

Long-term price forecasts for NEAR are varied among experts. Some analysts project that NEAR could retest multi-year highs, reaching $8–9 by the end of 2025, contingent on sustained positive crypto market conditions and user adoption of NEAR's technology. Other experts anticipate a steady climb to mid-single digits based on current metrics. TradingView analysts specifically project a 2025 low/high range between $1.95 and $9.00, with an average trading price of $4.34. They suggest that a weekly close above $4.345 could enable a retest of the $8–9 range by the end of 2025.

Broader Context

NEAR Protocol is a sharded layer-1 blockchain engineered for scalability and AI applications, utilizing Thresholded Proof-of-Stake (TPoS) and Nightshade sharding to facilitate high transaction volumes. It offers EVM compatibility via its Aurora layer, enabling developers to migrate from Ethereum, and features fast finality (1-second blocks) and low fees.

The platform has implemented several strategic advancements. On September 16, 2025, NEAR Protocol integrated Allora Network's decentralized intelligence layer, enhancing its Shade Agent infrastructure with predictive AI capabilities for applications in DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain operations. An inflation cut to 2.5% from 5% was approved via community vote on August 18, 2025, aiming to reduce sell pressure and incentivize long-term staking. Strategic partnerships announced on September 3, 2025, include collaborations with Aptos for cross-chain transfers and Shelby for decentralized storage, simplifying blockchain interactions and supporting AI workloads through NEAR's Chain Abstraction framework. Technological upgrades include Sharding Phase 3, introducing demand-driven shard allocation, and Resharding V3 in March 2025, which expanded the shard count from 6 to 8. On-chain activity in Q4 2024 recorded a 7.9% quarter-over-quarter growth in daily transactions and a 15.8% increase in active addresses, indicating increasing adoption and network utilization.