NEAR Protocol Price (NEAR)

About the NEAR Protocol (NEAR) Price (in EUR)

The NEAR Protocol price refers to the NEAR coin, which belongs to a layer-1 blockchain. In this article, we analyze how the NEAR price is formed, what factors influence it, how it has evolved over time, and what role NEAR Protocol could play in the future.

Key facts about the NEAR price:

• NEAR Protocol is a layer-1 blockchain that prioritizes high scalability, low transaction fees, and a developer-friendly environment.
• NEAR’s price is determined by supply and demand, which in turn is shaped by its staking and inflation model. Each year, new coins are issued as rewards, while transaction fees are burned. Developments related to the NEAR Foundation—the organization behind the project—also influence the cryptocurrency’s price.
• The project launched in April 2020. The cryptocurrency’s price has been volatile—reaching its all-time high of $20.40 in January 2022.
• Most recently, in spring 2025, the NEAR Protocol price traded in a range between approximately $2.28 and $3.00.
• The growing implementation of AI tools, chain abstraction, and new funding initiatives—such as the $20 million AI Agent Fund—could give NEAR a boost in the medium term.

How is the NEAR Protocol price determined?

Like all cryptocurrencies, the NEAR Protocol price is determined by supply and demand. These two factors are primarily shaped by two mechanisms that play a key role in the NEAR network:

• Staking model: NEAR uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, where validators and delegators stake their tokens. During this phase, the staked tokens are locked and not in circulation, which can temporarily reduce the available supply.
• New and burned tokens: The NEAR price is also influenced by a specific inflation model. New coins are issued annually as rewards for validators, while all transaction fees are burned. This combination of token issuance and burn effects has a direct impact on price formation.

What influences the NEAR price?

The price of NEAR Protocol is heavily influenced by network activity. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, which tend to attract retail investors, NEAR primarily targets developers. As a result, demand and price are closely linked to the number of active applications, users, and integrations within the ecosystem. Key factors that influence its price include:

• Ecosystem growth: The more dApps run on NEAR Protocol, the greater the need for NEAR as a transaction currency. There are currently more than 320 applications built on the network. New, significant additions can meaningfully impact the price.
• Staking and validators: Large amounts of staked NEAR tokens reduce the circulating supply—creating upward pressure on the price according to basic market principles.
• Technological progress: Improvements such as upgrades to the sharding model, bridges to other blockchains, or AI integration also affect the price. The launch of Nightshade 2.0 in August 2024, for instance, led to a 25% price increase within days.
• Funding and investments: The NEAR Foundation, based in Switzerland, regularly provides funding for developers, startups, and community projects. This strategic support brings attention—and capital—to the network.

Of course, broader market sentiment also plays a role. NEAR’s price tends to rise with bullish momentum—such as crypto-friendly decisions in U.S. policy—and fall during bearish phases across the crypto market.

Price history: Key moments in NEAR’s price development

1. April 2025: Current price performanceThe gains from November and December 2024 were sold off again in early 2025. Between March and April 2025, the NEAR Protocol price moved within a range of approximately $2.28 to $3.00.
2. 2024: Cycle high and subsequent correction At the beginning of 2024, NEAR’s price rose significantly and reached a cycle high of around $9 in March. This was followed by a slow downward trend, which only stopped at the end of the year thanks to a general uptick in crypto market sentiment. However, the yearly high was not surpassed.
3. 2023: Technical improvements in the ecosystem In March 2023, NEAR introduced its Blockchain Operating System (BOS). Following massive losses in the previous year, the price ranged between $1.90 and $2.80 throughout 2023.
4. 2022: Previous all-time high and bear market Following a strong 2021, the price rally continued into early 2022, culminating in NEAR’s all-time high of $20.40 on January 15. However, the price declined sharply over the rest of the year as part of the broader crypto bear market.
5. 2021: Strong uptrend and Rainbow Bridge In 2021, NEAR experienced a significant uptrend. The key driver was the launch of the Rainbow Bridge in March, which enabled transactions between Ethereum and NEAR. In September, the price reached a new all-time high of $11.48.
6. 2020: Launch and early price movements The NEAR Protocol mainnet launched in April 2020. After the first token transfers in October, the price hovered around $0.61. The all-time low of $0.53 was reached on November 4, 2020.

NEAR: Forecast and current developments

To make a forecast about NEAR Protocol’s future price, it’s essential to examine ongoing ecosystem developments. The current focus is on integrating artificial intelligence and further developing chain abstraction. Compatibility with the MetaMask SDK has also been achieved—potentially boosting accessibility for users and developers, which could have a positive impact on NEAR’s price. With a market cap of just under $3 billion, NEAR is among the smaller established coins. However, capital continues to flow into the ecosystem: for example, in February 2025, NEAR Protocol launched a $20 million AI Agent Fund to support the development of decentralized AI applications.