Near Protocol Rockets on AI News: What Traders Must Watch Now

NEAR

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  • NEAR surged as AI initiatives boosted sentiment and trading activity.
  • Technical breakout puts the $1.30 zone in focus for traders.
  • Strong volume contrasts with slightly declining user activity.

Near Protocol Near Protocol climbed sharply this week, rising more than 11% in 24 hours and landing among the day’s most-watched tokens. The move comes as investors react to fresh artificial-intelligence developments within the ecosystem and broader excitement around AI-linked crypto assets.

While the rally reflects improving sentiment, traders are now focused on whether the token can sustain momentum or fall back into its recent consolidation range.

Breakout Puts $1.30 Liquidity in Focus

Technical indicators suggest NEAR recently pushed beyond a prolonged sideways pattern between roughly $0.95 and $1.09. Strong buying pressure around the $1.03 level triggered a structural breakout, sending the token toward $1.26 and clearing nearby liquidity.

After that move, the price entered a mild pullback phase, retesting the breakout zone. If buyers defend this level, analysts expect a potential run toward the $1.30–$1.35 region where additional liquidity sits. Failure to hold support could see NEAR slip back into its earlier range.

NEAR Near Protocol
Source: NEAR/USDT on TradingView

Charts tracked on platforms like TradingView show that the next few sessions may determine whether the breakout evolves into a sustained trend or proves temporary.

“User-Owned AI” Announcement Drives Social Buzz

A major catalyst behind the renewed attention was the unveiling of “User-Owned AI” at the ecosystem’s annual conference. Co-founder Illia Polosukhin emphasized that the initiative aims to give users greater control over their data while improving safety and economic alignment in AI-powered applications.

The system introduces a feature called confidential transaction intents, designed to enable private cross-chain activity while reducing exposure to front-running and automated extraction strategies. The move signals NEAR’s ambition to expand into agent-driven applications while prioritizing user privacy.

At the same time, broader AI-market enthusiasm has been amplified by anticipation around earnings from semiconductor giant Nvidia, which historically influence sentiment across AI-linked sectors, including crypto.

Also Read: NEAR Launches AI Crypto Wallet — Can Near.com Reverse the Token’s Downtrend?

Rising Volume Supports Bullish Narrative

On-chain metrics also reflect growing interest. Data from Token Terminal shows Near Intents processing more than $440 million in volume over the past week, with strong daily flows and a steady rise in fees.

Near ProtocolNEAR
Source: Token Terminal

Still, not all indicators align. Active user counts have edged lower in recent weeks, suggesting that price momentum may be running ahead of network participation.

Near Protocol’s recent surge highlights how AI-focused narratives continue to shape crypto market flows. Strong technical positioning, rising transaction volume, and new product announcements have fueled optimism, but sustaining the rally may depend on whether real user activity catches up with investor expectations. For now, traders appear willing to give the project the benefit of the doubt as it pushes deeper into the AI-crypto frontier.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.