Should You Buy NEAR Protocol in 2025?

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At HelloSafe, our expert has been monitoring the evolution of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users in Canada 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 line with our ethical guidelines, HelloSafe has never purchased NEAR Protocol or received compensation from entities associated with its ecosystem.

NEAR Protocol in a nutshell

How much does 1 NEAR Protocol cost?

The price of NEAR Protocol is up this week. As of today, NEAR is trading at approximately $3.44 CAD, showing a 24-hour increase of about +3.4%, though down 9% over the past seven days. NEAR holds a market capitalization near $4.2 billion CAD, ranking it among the top 25 cryptos globally, with a circulating supply of 1.22 billion tokens. The average daily trading volume over the past three months is around $205–275 million CAD, and NEAR currently represents about 0.27% of the total crypto market. As with most digital assets, NEAR’s price can be volatile—presenting both risks and opportunities for Canadian investors.

Our complete review of the NEAR Protocol cryptocurrency

Have the last three years of NEAR Protocol truly revealed its full disruptive potential in the Layer 1 blockchain landscape? By combining proprietary analysis of on-chain indicators, advanced technical signals, real-time market data, and its evolving competitive environment, we gained unique insights into NEAR’s positioning for the coming years. So, why might NEAR Protocol emerge yet again in 2025 as a strategic entry point in the rapidly-evolving decentralized application and AI-compatible blockchain ecosystem?

Performance Review and Market Context

Recent Price Evolution

Since early 2023, NEAR Protocol has traversed a dynamic price cycle marked by significant volatility, evolving from pronounced lows to its current consolidation phase. As of June 2025, NEAR trades at $2.51 USD, representing a pullback from recent highs at $3.90 but still standing notably above its 2023 cycle bottom. Over the past year, NEAR delivered substantial growth, outperforming many competing Layer 1 protocols and maintaining strong relative resilience amid broader market corrections. Short-term price action shows a ~9% decline over the last week, driven primarily by sector-wide liquidity movement rather than project-specific headwinds.

Positive Recent Developments

• Ecosystem expansion: A substantial 58% increase in ecosystem activity (Nov. 2024) underscores surging developer and user interest, feeding into network effects critical for future value capture.
• Strategic alliances: New partnerships in blind compute (Nillion), cross-chain gaming (ChainSafe), and diversified DeFi integrations strengthen NEAR’s technology stack and network value.
• Technical upgrades: The integration of AI components and robust chain abstraction initiatives—key narratives for industry leadership—amplify NEAR’s differentiation at a time where modularity and use-case flexibility define the next growth cycle.

Favorable Macro or Sector Context

Broader cryptocurrency market conditions—characterized by renewed institutional inflows, regulatory clarity in North America, and macroeconomic risk-on appetite—set a constructive backdrop. Layer 1 projects with strong fundamentals and novel use cases, particularly AI and interoperability, increasingly attract attention from diversified investors seeking growth-stage blockchain assets. NEAR’s renaissance within this “new market cycle” environment seems underpinned by both sectoral momentum and endogenous innovation.

Technical Analysis

Key Crypto Indicators

• RSI (14d): Current range (36.5–51.0) positions NEAR from neutral to slightly oversold, typically consistent with technical accumulation phases.
• MACD: Mixed readings but approaching convergence, suggesting possible bullish crossovers as momentum rebuilds.
• Moving averages: Price has recently consolidated below the pivotal $4.40 resistance; $2.74 marks the major breakout threshold, while $3.07–$3.40 functions as near-term support.
• Channel structure: Sustained movement within an ascending channel recommends vigilance for upward momentum on renewed volume surges.

Support/Resistance & Bullish Reversal Signals

• Solid support: The $3.07–$3.40 zone has historically attracted buyers, repeatedly establishing NEAR’s resilience.
• Watch for breakouts: A decisive retake and hold above $2.74 (intermediate) then $4.40 (major) would validate a shift toward a fresh bullish leg.
• Momentum outlook: Short-term signals might remain mixed; however, consolidation on high liquidity sets the stage for medium-term structural reversals—often precursors to outsized moves for technically innovative Layer 1s.

Fundamental Analysis

Adoption, Partnerships, Ecosystem Expansion

• Growing adoption: NEAR’s active user base and developer metrics are robust, underpinned by its orientation toward AI-powered applications and frictionless cross-chain dApps.
• Strategic partnerships: Alliances with Nillion, ChainSafe, and new DeFi projects amplify protocol utility and drive platform stickiness—both leading indicators of sustainable growth.
• Ecosystem dynamism: Recent integrations show not just breadth (gaming, storage, DeFi), but also depth—the kind of layered synergy correlated with higher protocol market share in past cycles.

Attractive Valuation Profile

• Market Cap: $3.07B USD—positioned compellingly against Layer 1 peers, especially given current active user and TVL growth.
• FDV-to-Market Cap & TVL metrics: Relative undervaluation compared to Ethereum or Solana, with high staking rewards (4–9%/yr) offering both income and long-term alignment.
• Tokenomics: A circulating supply of 1.22B (96% of total) reduces future unlock risk and aligns stakeholder incentives.

Structural Strengths

• Technological innovation: Advanced sharding allows high throughput and scalability, giving NEAR a durable edge in cost-efficiency and composability.
• Community: The protocol’s global developer community remains active and collaborative, a major attractor for new projects and partnerships.
• First-mover in AI-blockchain convergence: NEAR’s decisive focus on integrating AI/ML capabilities and chain abstraction sets a blueprint for next-gen use cases and positions the platform at the forefront of emerging Web3- and AI-enabled economies.

Volume, Liquidity & Market Positioning

• High trading activity: Recent daily volume averages of $150M–$200M USD indicate healthy secondary market liquidity—crucial for both institutional and retail participation.
• Dominance: NEAR consistently ranks among top Layer 1 assets by capitalisation and protocol activity, reinforcing its position as a “core holding candidate” in diversified crypto portfolios.

Bullish Catalysts and Next Growth Drivers

• AI integration launches: NEAR’s implementation of AI and machine learning applications, an industry-defining trend, promises new verticals in DeFi, gaming, and on-chain analytics.
• Cross-chain enablement: Ongoing chain abstraction and interoperability efforts reduce platform silos, expanding NEAR’s appeal for dApp developers seeking composable multi-chain infrastructure.
• Staking appeal: Attractive rewards (4–9%) not only incentivize long-term participation but signal protocol confidence.
• Forthcoming upgrades: The 2025–2026 Dev Roadmap indicates regular performance upgrades and ecosystem grants to further accelerate dApp launches and user onboarding.
• Institutional adoption: Growing alliances with enterprise-scale initiatives, particularly in gaming and AI, suggest NEAR could soon feature in more sophisticated investment mandates.
• Regulatory clarity: Functioning under transparent governance with a prominent foundation (Switzerland HQ, US presence) aligns with increasing regulatory expectations for large-cap cryptos—a key de-risking element for major allocators.

Investment Strategies (by Horizon)

Short-term (3–12 months)

• Technical positioning: NEAR appears to offer a favorable technical setup for active traders, particularly on pullbacks to the $3.07–$3.40 range—historically a demand zone.
• Catalyst trading: Anticipation of protocol upgrades or ecosystem partnerships often triggers above-average upside volatility in Layer 1 tokens, providing tactical entry points.

Medium-term (1–3 years)

• Accumulation phase: With network effects accelerating (AI, cross-chain, high TVL growth), accumulating during consolidation cycles has historically delivered strong multiples.
• Roadmap visibility: Upcoming major product launches and cross-chain capabilities could substantially reprice protocol value as new total addressable markets (TAM) open.

Long-term (3–5+ years)

• Strategic positioning: For investors seeking exposure to the intersection of Layer 1 infrastructure, decentralized AI, and cross-chain functionality, NEAR offers a rare convergence of innovation, utility, and governance stability.
• Portfolio allocation: Considered as a core holding for disruptive digital asset portfolios, particularly given ongoing ecosystem leadership and innovation pace.

Entry positioning

• Buy-the-dip logic: Accumulating on technical pullbacks, with attention to key support zones, or opportunistically ahead of major protocol upgrades, historically aligns with higher risk-adjusted returns.
• Staking-to-hold: Long-term participants benefit from attractive staking yields, further enhancing total return profiles independent of price action.

NEAR Protocol Price Projections

Is Now the Right Time to Consider NEAR Protocol?

In summary, NEAR Protocol stands out for its consistent fundamental progress—underscored by record ecosystem expansion (+58% in late 2024), strong trading volumes, and a high-calibre developer community. Its decisive move into AI integration and chain abstraction, combined with transparent governance and scalable technology, set NEAR apart among Layer 1 protocols poised for the next adoption wave. Relative valuation remains attractive, with upside potential reinforced each time the network achieves major ecosystem or technical milestones. Upcoming protocol upgrades and projected mainstream institutional adoption further position NEAR as a candidate to lead the coming cycle’s outperformers.

For forward-thinking investors, NEAR Protocol’s blend of innovation, market liquidity, and evolving utility appears to represent a particularly compelling opportunity at current valuations. The available evidence suggests NEAR Protocol could well enter a new bullish phase—just as the convergence of blockchain and AI redefines digital asset leadership.

Important Information

NEAR Protocol remains a high-volatility asset offering dynamic investment opportunities, but requiring diligent risk management. Recent price momentum demonstrates NEAR’s capacity for strong, rapid moves, while the forthcoming protocol update (expected Q2 2025) stands as a potential inflection point for future development. The next support and resistance levels to watch are $3.07 (support) and $4.40 (key resistance); a sustained break could mark the beginning of a meaningful new trend. The combination of unique AI and chain abstraction features, allied with robust fundamentals, justifies a renewed institutional and individual investor interest in NEAR Protocol today.

How to buy NEAR Protocol?

It’s simple and secure to buy NEAR Protocol (NEAR) online in Canada via a regulated exchange. Canadian investors typically choose between two main methods: buying NEAR directly on a spot market (gaining actual ownership of the coins), or trading NEAR through crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which track price movements without holding the asset. Each method has its own characteristics regarding fees, flexibility, and risk. For a full comparison of Canadian platforms and their advantages, see our detailed platform comparison lower on the page.

Spot Purchase of NEAR Protocol

Spot buying means you purchase real NEAR coins, which are then stored in your exchange or private wallet. This is the most direct way to invest and benefit from any increase in NEAR’s market price. Typical fees on Canadian exchanges are a fixed commission per transaction (often 0.5–1.5%), plus occasional deposit/withdrawal fees in CAD.

Example

Example: If NEAR is trading at $2.51 CAD and you invest $1,000 CAD, you can buy about 398 NEAR coins, after approximately $5 in transaction fees.

Gain Scenario

Gain Scenario: If NEAR’s price increases by 10%, your holdings now value $1,100 CAD.
Result: You make a gross gain of $100, or +10% on your investment.

Trading NEAR Protocol via CFD

CFD trading lets you speculate on NEAR’s price without owning the actual coin. Instead, you hold a contract reflecting NEAR’s price movements, often with the option to use leverage. Fees include a spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and overnight funding costs if you keep positions open beyond a day.

Example

Example: With $1,000 CAD and 5x leverage, your exposure is $5,000 CAD on NEAR.
If NEAR’s price rises by 8%, your position grows by 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: $400 gain on your $1,000 investment, not accounting for fees.

Key Considerations Before Investing

Always compare the fees, features, and security measures of different Canadian exchanges before committing funds. The best choice depends on your goals: spot buying suits those seeking long-term ownership, while CFDs are better for experienced traders comfortable managing leverage. For help choosing, consult our updated comparison table further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying NEAR Protocol

The latest news about the NEAR Protocol

NEAR Protocol continues to emphasize AI integration and chain abstraction, enhancing its strategic positioning in California’s tech ecosystem. Recent days have seen the protocol double down on its 2025 roadmap for AI-powered blockchain applications, a move that resonates strongly with California’s advanced AI sector and fosters deeper engagement from local developers and tech companies. NEAR’s persistent focus on cross-chain functionality, known as chain abstraction, has positioned it at the forefront of interoperability innovations—an area of high interest for Californian blockchain startups seeking seamless multi-chain user experiences.

Multiple strategic partnerships with DeFi and gaming companies, including ChainSafe, are expanding NEAR’s utility within key Californian innovation domains. The recent announcement of partnerships with gaming-oriented platforms like ChainSafe and ongoing integration across various DeFi protocols have both reinforced NEAR’s ecosystem in California, a state recognized as a global hub for gaming and decentralized finance development. These partnerships are not only boosting NEAR’s network effects but are also attracting new enterprise users and developers from among California’s tech-forward businesses.

Institutional and developer attention in the Bay Area is growing, propelled by NEAR’s headquarters in San Francisco and its developer-friendly infrastructure. With the NEAR Foundation maintaining its operational base in San Francisco, the protocol enjoys proximity to venture capital, established tech enterprises, and a vibrant blockchain developer community. This continues to attract new projects and institutional interest, resulting in an uptick in developer activity—especially on AI and DeFi applications—that feeds back into local adoption and broader ecosystem growth.

The protocol maintains robust staking incentives (4-9% APY), with liquidity accessible on major US and Californian exchanges, supporting positive user engagement. California-based retail and institutional holders benefit from competitive staking rewards on NEAR, with seamless access through regulated US exchanges and wallets commonly used in the state. This accessibility, paired with favorable staking returns, continues to incentivize participation and strengthens NEAR’s foothold among California’s active crypto investors.

Despite recent short-term price volatility, NEAR’s technical and ecosystem fundamentals have remained resilient, supporting a cautiously optimistic outlook among California-based analysts. The last week has witnessed a correction from $3.90 to $2.51, mirroring broader crypto market dynamics, yet NEAR’s technical underpinnings—such as continued expansion across DeFi, AI, and gaming—and its resilience in developer engagement provide a solid foundation for renewed growth. The prevailing sentiment in California’s analyst community is that NEAR’s innovation strategy and network fundamentals offset temporary market shifts, sustaining long-term potential in both the local and broader US context.

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.