Should You Buy NEAR Protocol in 2025?

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At HelloSafe, our expert has been closely monitoring the evolution of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users in India trust us to analyze market trends and identify the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In accordance with our ethical policy, HelloSafe has never purchased NEAR Protocol nor received any compensation from entities connected to its ecosystem.

NEAR Protocol in brief

How much does 1 NEAR Protocol cost?

The price of NEAR Protocol is up this week. As of today, NEAR trades at approximately ₹199.10, with a 24-hour change of +3.54% and a weekly trend showing mixed movements.

The current market capitalization stands at about ₹24,250 crore, with an average 3-month daily trading volume near ₹982 crore.

Ranked #34 worldwide, NEAR has 1.22 billion tokens in circulation, representing roughly 0.19% of the total crypto market.

NEAR’s price can be quite volatile, offering both risk and opportunity for investors in India’s fast-growing crypto landscape.

Our complete review of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency

Have the latest multi-sourced, algorithmic analyses on NEAR Protocol—across on-chain metrics, technical signals, market data, and competitive landscape—unveiled new upside narratives for this pioneering Layer-1? Over the last three years, NEAR Protocol has traversed volatility typical of the crypto sector, yet various key pivots in network scaling and AI integration stand out. So, why might NEAR Protocol re-emerge in 2025 as a strategic entry point for the next wave of decentralized AI infrastructure and Layer-1 blockchain investors?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Evolution and Recent Drivers

The current NEAR Protocol price stands at $2.39 USD (as of 7 June 2025), reflecting a substantial retreat from its all-time high of $20.42 in January 2022—a drawdown of nearly 89%. Over the last six months, NEAR's market has experienced significant compression, with the token finding strong support in the $2.316–$2.38 bracket after persistent selloffs. However, intraday volatility remains distinguished, with upticks like the recent +3.54% signaling tactically driven recoveries.

Where previous market cycles tethered NEAR closely to speculative flows, the asset now appears to enter a phase where on-chain fundamentals, ecosystem partnerships (notably those fueling the "user-owned AI" narrative), and expanding Layer-1 use cases progressively weigh in on sentiment.

Positive Events and Sector Tailwinds

2025 has been defined by structural upgrades—Nightshade 2.0 boosts network sharding from 6 to 8, while OmniBridge expands cross-chain capabilities, and the launch of autonomous Shade Agents strengthens NEAR’s decentralized AI credentials. Institutional engagement is rising, with Laser Digital’s fund targeting NEAR adoption and AI Agent Alliance adding new heavyweights.

Macro context, too, is supportive: as the broader crypto ecosystem pivots towards scalable, developer-friendly blockchains with real-world applications (not just speculative narratives), protocols offering robust AI and DeFi primitives are at the forefront of renewed capital rotation.

Technical Analysis

Crypto Indicators Snapshot

• RSI (14D): 41.8 (neutral, avoiding oversold/overbought extremes)
• Stochastic %K: 12.07 (suggests a possible short-term buying window)
• MACD: -0.102 (bearish, but signal lines close to potential reversal)

Moving Averages:
The price sits below key MAs (20, 50, 100, 200 days), indicating the previous multi-month downtrend is intact—but compression above strong long-term support often signals the maturing of a bottoming process.

Key Support/Resistance Levels

• Immediate support: $2.316–$2.38
• Next resistance: $2.54–$2.60
• Major upside hurdles: $4.40, $6.00

Multiple failed attempts to break lower, combined with consolidating volume on support levels, suggest NEAR may be forming a base. Should near-term bullish triggers activate, a test of resistance zones is feasible.

Momentum and Structure

Momentum is neutral-to-cautiously constructive. Oscillators split (7 neutral, 3 buy, 1 sell), still lending room for upside surprises if macro or ecosystem news shocks the tape. The price's tight clustering around key supports, combined with rising developer and market attention to AI integration, could also amplify technical breakout potential.

Fundamental Analysis

Adoption, Partnerships, and Ecosystem Growth

• Users: Daily active addresses have stabilized above 3.8 million despite adverse conditions.
• Developers: NEAR now hosts one of the most vibrant decentralized AI-development communities (50+ active projects), even as core dev counts dipped.
• Strategic Partnerships: High-caliber alliances (Coinbase, Phala, KyberSwap) position NEAR as pivotal to the emerging "chain abstraction" trend.

Relative Valuation

At a $2.91B USD market cap, NEAR presently trades at a compelling discount compared to historical highs, especially relative to peers like Ethereum and Solana—whose Layer-1 ecosystems are at capacity. With a TVL of $155.9M (+23.3% in NEAR terms, despite -36.8% in USD), a DEX volume surging 101% QoQ, and staking yield near 4.5%, NEAR appears to be reconstructing a solid on-chain demand base.

Differentiators:

• Seamless sharding with proven scalability (8 shards, aspiring to 1M+ TPS by 2025’s end)
• Predictable transaction fees below $0.0023—critical for AI/DeFi adoption
• Developer-friendly infrastructure (JavaScript and Rust compatibility)
• Early-mover, cross-chain AI use cases via “User-Owned AI” and omni-chain integration

Volume and Liquidity

• 24h trading volume: $117.95M—well above the illiquidity bracket, indicating robust two-way flows and resilience against volatility spikes.
• Staking rate: 44.9%—a strong validator ecosystem supporting network security and long-term alignment.

With its rank at #34 by market capitalization, NEAR remains a top-tier Layer-1—giving it institutional visibility, deep order books, and listing on all leading exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and Kraken.

Positive Catalysts & Market Position

• Mainnet protocol upgrades and AI-centric product launches are stacked into the 2025 roadmap, alongside continuous expansion of the developer/user ecosystem.
• Cross-chain bridges and atomic swaps via Chain Signatures position NEAR as an operational “middleware” between chains.
• Regulatory compliance efforts and institutional interest (Laser Digital Fund) reinforce credibility with conservative investors and family offices.

Investment Strategies by Time Horizon

Short-Term (1–3 months)

• Argument: Current price is pressing against long-standing support. For traders seeking mean-reversion or bullish technical rotation, an entry on pullback to the $2.32–$2.38 zone, with a close stop, offers opportunistic convexity.
• Catalysts: Promising if short-term protocol update or ecosystem news (new DeFi/NFT or AI deployment) surprise to the upside.

Medium-Term (6–12 months)

• Argument: Q3/Q4 2025 are front-loaded with major network upgrades (scaling to 8+ shards, throughput lift). This, coupled with expected sector-wide AI/DeFi pivots, justifies a watchful accumulation, especially on technical dips or before anticipated roadmap announcements.
• Positioning: Building a core allocation as NEAR approaches or confirms breakout above the $2.60–$4.40 resistance could ride early bullish momentum.

Long-Term (1–3 years)

• Argument: NEAR is now widely considered a foundational Layer-1—uniquely positioned at the intersection of scalable infrastructure and decentralized AI, both macro themes with multi-cycle momentum. Holding through short-term volatility could offer asymmetric reward as network effect compounds and institutional adoption matures.
• Strategy: Staking NEAR (yielding ~4.5%) adds a baseline “real yield” and network security participation.

Ideal Entry Points

• Accumulating on dips into the $2.32–$2.38 major support region
• Scaling in further ahead of or just after confirmed protocol milestones (especially scaling, AI, and cross-chain integration upgrades)

NEAR Protocol Price Predictions

Is Now the Right Time to Consider NEAR Protocol?

NEAR Protocol is currently trading at deep value levels relative to its potential, featuring a highly active and resilient user base, robust developer momentum despite sector headwinds, and distinctive advantages in sharding, cross-chain tech, and decentralized AI infrastructure. The protocol’s strategic roadmap is dotted with visible, value-accretive catalysts—key upgrades, expanding DeFi/AI utility, and strong institutional signals—while liquidity and staking mechanics reinforce the foundation for potential expansion.

With on-chain data, market structure, and fundamental trends aligning, NEAR Protocol seems to represent an excellent opportunity for investors seeking early exposure to the next generation of Layer-1 and AI-native platforms. The convergence of technical compression at key supports, accelerating ecosystem integration, and a pipeline of network upgrades could well justify renewed attention and strategic positioning. As always, prudent risk management is essential; still, for those looking to harness the upside of decentralized AI and scalable blockchain infrastructure, NEAR Protocol could well be on the cusp of a new, powerful bullish cycle in the years ahead.

NEAR Protocol remains a high-volatility asset presenting excellent opportunities for dynamic investment, provided risk management disciplines are strictly observed. Its recent price acceleration illustrates NEAR's capacity for sharp, powerful moves, and the evolving macro context suggests selective, structurally-informed exposure may prove highly rewarding. The immediate technical levels to watch are $2.32 as firm support and $2.60 as a critical resistance. The upcoming protocol upgrades slated for late 2025 stand out as decisive potential catalysts for NEAR Protocol’s future path.

How to buy NEAR Protocol?

It’s simple and secure to buy the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency online through a regulated platform. There are mainly two methods available to private investors: buying NEAR Protocol for direct ownership (spot market), or trading its price via crypto-based CFDs (Contracts for Difference). Both approaches can be accessed online, with varying advantages, risk levels and fee structures. The comparative table further down this page will help you choose the right platform based on your needs, fees and service level.

Spot Purchase

Buying NEAR Protocol on the spot market means you become the actual owner of NEAR coins, which are stored in your personal crypto wallet. This is the most common and straightforward method for beginners. Transaction fees are typically a fixed commission per purchase, often charged in your local currency (for India, this is usually INR – Indian Rupees).

Example

Example: Let’s assume the NEAR Protocol price is $2.39 USD per coin (about ₹199 at an exchange rate of 1 USD = ₹83.3). With an investment of ₹83,300 (roughly equal to €1,000), and a transaction fee of around ₹415 (approx. €5), you could buy about 417 NEAR coins.
✔️ Gain Scenario: If the price of NEAR Protocol rises by 10%, your portfolio is now worth ₹91,630.
Result: That’s a ₹8,330 gross gain, or +10% on your initial investment.

Trading via CFD

Trading NEAR Protocol with a CFD (Contract for Difference) means you do NOT actually own NEAR coins. Instead, you’re speculating on the price movement—up or down—of NEAR Protocol. CFDs allow you to use leverage, increasing your exposure, but also your risks. Fees with CFDs usually combine a market spread and a daily “overnight” financing fee if you keep your position open for more than a single day.

Example

Example: You open a NEAR Protocol CFD position with ₹83,300, using 5x leverage. This gives you market exposure of ₹416,500 (about €5,000).
✔️ Gain Scenario: If NEAR Protocol rises 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: That’s ₹33,320 gain on your initial ₹83,300—before fees.

Final Advice

Before buying NEAR Protocol, make sure to compare platforms for fees, security, features, and purchase conditions. Each method fits different investor profiles: spot purchases are best for those seeking direct ownership and simplicity, while CFD trading is more suitable for experienced, active traders willing to take on higher risk with leverage. You’ll find a platform comparison guide further down this page to help you get started.

Our 7 tips for buying NEAR Protocol

The latest news about the NEAR Protocol

NEAR Protocol has reinforced its leadership in decentralized AI with strategic alliances and active developer engagement. In the past week, NEAR’s role as a frontrunner in user-owned AI was highlighted by its ongoing involvement in the AI Agent Alliance, which now counts more than 20 significant members such as Coinbase and Phala. The ecosystem continues to expand, with over 50 teams actively developing AI-focused applications on NEAR, a signal of sustained innovation and engagement. This momentum is especially relevant for India’s rapidly growing Web3 developer community, which has shown keen interest in building scalable and cost-effective AI solutions and can benefit from NEAR’s compatibility with widely-used programming languages like JavaScript and Rust.

NEAR’s integration with KyberSwap to enable “NEAR Intents” has improved liquidity access across leading Indian crypto exchanges. The technical advancement allowing intent-based, bridge-free trading simplifies the user experience for retail and institutional participants in India. This comes at a time when DEX daily volumes on NEAR have surged over 101% quarter-on-quarter, with the network supporting $17 million in daily exchange volume and growing stablecoin liquidity, a crucial factor for the INR-crypto trading pairs commonly used on Indian platforms.

The launch of the “Laser Digital” adoption fund positions NEAR for increased institutional adoption in key emerging markets such as India. With numerous Indian funds and family offices increasingly exploring compliant digital asset exposure, Laser Digital’s focus on driving NEAR integration with institutional portfolios adds credibility and new capital inflows potential, especially as Indian regulations for digital assets mature. This fund amplifies NEAR’s reputation as an investable infrastructure layer and could catalyze broader usage among regulated Indian investment entities.

Technical and on-chain data indicate stability at key support levels and resilience of India-based user activity despite market turbulence. NEAR has maintained a strong base above its $2.31–$2.38 support range over the past week, with a moderate 0.8% quarter-on-quarter increase in daily active addresses—suggesting sticky user engagement, a metric often boosted by NEAR’s developer initiatives in India, such as hackathons and grants. Even as network revenues have seen cyclical declines, fee stability and rising active wallets point to continued decentralized application activity, mitigating some downside risk for the local investor and builder base.

NEAR’s proactive regulatory compliance and secure staking rewards offer enhanced appeal within India’s evolving digital asset legal context. The protocol’s positioning as a utility token and its visible commitment to regulatory adherence bolster its legitimacy on major local exchanges such as Binance India and WazirX. Furthermore, staking yields of around 4.5% per annum provide a competitive, transparent incentive for Indian holders seeking reliable passive income in a volatile environment, aligning with the investment needs of a growing community of digital asset users and investors within the country.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.