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NEAR Protocol
NEARPublic

NEAR Protocol

Symbol

NEAR

Type

Public

Consensus

Nightshade (Proof of Stake)

Launch Date

22-04-2020

Founder(s)

Alexander Skidanov, Illia Polosukhin

Developer

NEAR Foundation

About NEAR Protocol

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain designed for usability and scalability. Using a novel sharding approach called Nightshade, NEAR achieves high throughput while keeping transaction costs low. The protocol features human-readable account names, a developer-friendly environment with support for Rust and JavaScript smart contracts, and innovative access keys for smooth user experiences. NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin is also a co-author of the foundational Transformer paper that underpins modern AI. The ecosystem includes Aurora (EVM compatibility layer) and a growing DeFi landscape.