What Is NEAR Protocol? Token & Blockchain Guide

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own independent research before making any investment decision.

In 2018, a Google AI researcher who helped invent the technology underlying modern large language models turned his attention to blockchain. The problem he wanted to solve was practical: blockchain networks were too slow, too expensive, and too difficult to build on for most developers and users.

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain platform designed for building and running decentralized applications at scale. It uses a parallel-processing architecture called Nightshade sharding to handle high transaction volumes at low cost. The network is secured by a proof-of-stake consensus model. The NEAR token is the native cryptocurrency that powers all activity on the network.

A blockchain is a shared digital record-book that no single person or company controls. Every transaction is recorded permanently and can be verified by anyone. Think of it as a spreadsheet that thousands of computers around the world maintain simultaneously, making it nearly impossible for any single actor to alter. NEAR Protocol is one of many blockchains, distinguished by its specific design choices around speed, cost, and developer tools.

A Layer 1 blockchain is the foundational base network that processes and finalizes transactions directly. Bitcoin and Ethereum are both Layer 1 blockchains. NEAR competes at this level, operating as an independent network with its own security model rather than building on top of another chain.

NEAR Protocol refers to the blockchain network itself. The NEAR token is the separate cryptocurrency used within that network for fees, staking, and governance.

Developers build decentralized applications, or dApps, on NEAR. A decentralized application (dApp) is a program that runs on a blockchain rather than on a company's server, meaning no single entity controls it. NEAR supports dApps across decentralized finance, NFT markets, gaming, and cross-chain infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain designed for fast, low-cost decentralized applications
• Its Nightshade sharding architecture processes transactions across parallel segments, enabling higher throughput than single-chain blockchains
• The NEAR token pays for transaction fees, earns staking rewards, and participates in governance
• NEAR was founded in 2018 by Illia Polosukhin, a former Google AI researcher, and Alexander Skidanov, a former Microsoft engineer
• NEAR competes with Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche in the Layer 1 smart contract blockchain market
• In 2023, NEAR expanded its vision with the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), targeting cross-chain Web3 development beyond a single Layer 1 network

In this article:

• Who Founded NEAR Protocol? A Brief History
• How Does NEAR Protocol Work?
• The NEAR Token: Utility, Tokenomics, and Staking
• What Can You Do With NEAR Protocol?
• How Does NEAR Protocol Compare to Ethereum and Other Blockchains?
• Is NEAR Protocol a Good Investment?
• Frequently Asked Questions About NEAR Protocol

Who Founded NEAR Protocol? A Brief History

NEAR Protocol was founded in 2018 by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov, two engineers who met while working on machine learning problems and decided the blockchain industry had a usability problem worth solving.

Polosukhin's background is unusual in the blockchain space. Before co-founding NEAR, he was a researcher at Google Brain and is a co-author of "Attention Is All You Need," the 2017 paper that introduced the Transformer architecture. That architecture became the technical foundation for large language models including GPT-4 and ChatGPT. Polosukhin's AI research background directly informs NEAR's growing focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain infrastructure.

Did You Know? NEAR Protocol co-founder Illia Polosukhin co-authored "Attention Is All You Need" (2017), the research paper that introduced the Transformer architecture powering ChatGPT, GPT-4, and most modern AI language models. No other major Layer 1 blockchain has a founder with this level of foundational AI research credentials.

Alexander Skidanov brings complementary engineering depth. Before NEAR, he was a software engineer at Microsoft and worked on the codebase for MemSQL (now SingleStore), a high-performance database system. Together, Polosukhin and Skidanov set out to build a blockchain platform that developers could actually use without sacrificing speed or cost.

Development began in 2018. A testnet launched in 2019. The NEAR Protocol mainnet went live in April 2020.

NEAR Protocol Timeline

• 2018: Founded by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov
• 2019: Testnet launch
• April 2020: Mainnet launch
• 2023: Blockchain Operating System (BOS) introduced

The NEAR Foundation is the Swiss non-profit organization that oversees the development and growth of the NEAR Protocol ecosystem. Registered in Switzerland, the Foundation funds grants for developers, supports open-source contributions, and acts as a stewardship body for the protocol. It does not control the NEAR blockchain in a centralized sense. The network itself is decentralized. For official resources and governance information, visit the NEAR Foundation at near.foundation.

How Does NEAR Protocol Work?

NEAR Protocol runs on three technical foundations: a sharding architecture called Nightshade for scalability, a proof-of-stake consensus model for security and energy efficiency, and a human-readable account system for usability. Together, these allow NEAR to process transactions faster and at lower cost than many competing blockchains, while supporting smart contracts written in Rust or JavaScript.

What Is Nightshade Sharding?

Think of a traditional blockchain like a single-lane road. Every transaction must wait in line to be processed one after another. As traffic grows, the road gets congested and processing slows down. Nightshade sharding turns that single lane into a multi-lane highway.

Sharding is a technique that divides a blockchain into parallel-processing segments. Each segment, called a shard, handles a portion of the network's transactions simultaneously rather than sequentially. This is how NEAR achieves scalability: by spreading the processing workload across multiple shards at the same time.

Nightshade is NEAR Protocol's specific implementation of sharding. In Nightshade, each shard processes its own transactions and produces a portion of each block. The shards then communicate to maintain a single, unified blockchain state. From the outside, the network appears as one coherent chain, even though multiple shards are processing transactions in parallel.

NEAR has rolled out Nightshade sharding in phases. Phase 0 launched with the mainnet in 2020. Subsequent phases have expanded the number of shards and the degree of parallelism. Verify the current phase status at NEAR's official documentation at docs.near.org.

[INSERT: Nightshade sharding diagram: parallel shard lanes feeding into a unified blockchain state]

How Does NEAR Secure Its Network?

Bitcoin asks its participants to compete by solving complex mathematical puzzles using enormous amounts of electricity. The winner earns the right to add the next block. This model is called proof of work.

NEAR takes a different approach. Instead of burning electricity, NEAR uses proof of stake (PoS), a consensus mechanism where participants lock up tokens as a financial commitment to earn the right to validate transactions. Validators are network participants who verify and record transactions. They are selected based on the amount of NEAR tokens they have staked.

NEAR's specific implementation is called Thresholded Proof of Stake (TPoS). Block production uses a finality mechanism called Doomslug, which provides fast transaction confirmation. Gas fees, the small amounts of cryptocurrency paid to validators for processing transactions, are determined by a predictable computation-based schedule rather than the real-time auction model Ethereum uses.

Carbon Neutrality: NEAR Protocol has received carbon-neutral certification, recognizing the environmental efficiency of its proof-of-stake model. Because NEAR requires no energy-intensive mining, its carbon footprint is a fraction of proof-of-work blockchains. Verify the certifying body and current certification status at near.org before citing this credential.

Smart Contracts and Developer Languages on NEAR

A smart contract is a program stored on the blockchain that executes automatically when specific conditions are met, with no middleman required. Think of a vending machine: you insert the correct amount, select your item, and the machine delivers it without a cashier. A smart contract works the same way, replacing the middleman with code.

Developers deploy smart contracts on NEAR to build dApps. NEAR supports two programming languages for smart contract development: Rust (the primary production-grade option) and JavaScript via the NEAR JavaScript software development kit (SDK). Ethereum, by contrast, uses Solidity, a language built specifically for blockchain. NEAR's support for JavaScript means web developers can start building blockchain applications without learning an entirely new language.

NEAR Protocol itself is an open-source network, not a company. It does not generate revenue in the traditional sense. The network is sustained by transaction fees paid in NEAR tokens, a portion of which are burned, and by validator rewards funded through controlled token inflation.

Building on NEAR? Key resources:

• JavaScript SDK: docs.near.org
• Rust SDK: docs.near.org
• NEAR CLI: docs.near.org
• Ecosystem grants: near.foundation

NEAR's Human-Readable Account Names

Sending NEAR tokens works more like sending an email than sending a wire transfer.

Most blockchain addresses are cryptographic strings. Ethereum addresses look like 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F. NEAR Protocol uses a different model: accounts have human-readable names like yourname.near. You choose the name when creating an account, and anyone can send NEAR to that address by typing the name directly.

This design removes one of the most friction-heavy parts of using cryptocurrency. No copying and pasting 42-character hex strings. For new users, this is a material usability advantage over Ethereum's address format.

The NEAR Token: Utility, Tokenomics, and Staking

The NEAR token is the native cryptocurrency that runs on the NEAR Protocol blockchain. It is not purely a speculative asset. Three specific functions make it necessary for anyone transacting, building, or participating in NEAR's governance.

What Is the NEAR Token Used For?

The NEAR token powers every action on the network. Its three core functions are:

• Transaction fees (gas): Every transaction on NEAR requires a small fee paid in NEAR tokens. These fees compensate validators for processing the transaction.
• Staking: Token holders can stake their NEAR to support network security and earn rewards in return.
• Governance: NEAR token holders participate in decisions about the protocol's direction.

NEAR Tokenomics at a Glance

• Genesis supply: 1 billion NEAR tokens
• Annual inflation: approximately 5%, distributed as validator rewards
• Deflationary offset: a portion of every transaction fee is burned, reducing circulating supply over time
• Net inflation effect: depends on network activity; high activity periods can reduce net inflation
• Token distribution: verify current allocation percentages across community, team, investors, and foundation at docs.near.org or near.foundation, as figures reflect initial distribution and may have changed

NEAR has a partially deflationary supply structure. Transaction fees are partially burned, which can offset inflation during periods of high network activity. The net inflation rate depends on how much activity the network processes.

NEAR Token Stats (Source: current NEAR token data on CoinGecko. Figures change daily.)

• Genesis supply: 1 billion NEAR
• Annual inflation: ~5%
• Current price, market cap, and circulating supply: see CoinGecko link above

Data note: Market figures are not hardcoded in this article. Verify current data before making any decision.

How Does NEAR Staking Work?

Think of staking as posting a security deposit that earns interest while it supports the network. You lock up your NEAR tokens as a financial commitment, and the network rewards you for helping keep it secure.

Staking means locking NEAR tokens to participate in the network's proof-of-stake consensus. Validators are chosen based on the amount of NEAR they have staked. The more tokens staked behind a validator, the higher their chance of being selected to produce the next block and earn rewards. This mechanism is distinct from staking in decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity pools, which involves yield farming and is a separate process entirely.

Two participation paths exist for NEAR holders:

1. Run a validator node: Requires a minimum stake threshold plus technical setup and ongoing maintenance. Validators earn the full block reward for blocks they produce.
2. Delegate to an existing validator: Accessible to any NEAR holder regardless of technical expertise. You assign your tokens to a validator of your choosing, and the validator shares a portion of its rewards with delegators.

Staking rewards come from the network's approximately 5% annual inflation, distributed among validators and their delegators. Specific annual percentage yield (APY) figures change frequently and should not be treated as fixed. Check NEAR's official staking dashboard or docs.near.org for live rates before making any staking decision.

What Can You Do With NEAR Protocol?

NEAR Protocol is not a single product. It is an infrastructure layer that different types of users interact with in different ways. Understanding what NEAR actually does means looking at it from two practical angles: what you can do as a user or developer engaging with the ecosystem, and what you hold as a token owner.

DeFi, NFTs, and dApps: The NEAR Ecosystem

As a user on the NEAR network, the most direct way to interact with the ecosystem is through its decentralized applications (dApps). These are apps that run on the blockchain rather than on a company's server, operating through smart contracts without central control.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to financial services, including lending and trading, built on blockchain networks rather than through banks or brokers. NEAR hosts an active DeFi ecosystem. Ref Finance is NEAR's primary decentralized exchange (DEX): it is an automated market maker (AMM) where users swap between NEAR ecosystem tokens without routing transactions through a centralized intermediary. DeFi activity exists across many blockchains; NEAR's DeFi ecosystem is separate from Ethereum's and runs on its own protocols.

NEAR also supports a growing market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique digital assets recorded on the blockchain. Paras is a digital art marketplace built on NEAR where artists list and sell original digital work. Mintbase is NFT minting infrastructure that lets creators issue their own digital collectibles and build NFT-based storefronts directly on NEAR, at lower minting costs than Ethereum's mainnet.

As a developer, NEAR offers tools to build smart contract applications in Rust or JavaScript, access Aurora for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, and apply for ecosystem grants through the NEAR Foundation. As a token holder, you can hold NEAR as an asset, stake it to earn rewards, or participate in governance decisions.

Verify that Ref Finance, Paras, and Mintbase remain active at time of reading. Ecosystem projects can change status.

Aurora and the Rainbow Bridge: NEAR's Ethereum Connection

One of NEAR Protocol's notable features for Ethereum users and developers is its direct compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem through two separate but related tools.

Aurora is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility layer built on NEAR Protocol. The Ethereum Virtual Machine is the execution environment that runs Ethereum smart contracts. Aurora lets Ethereum developers deploy their existing Solidity-based smart contracts on NEAR without rewriting any code. Users can interact with Aurora-based apps using Ethereum wallets like MetaMask. Aurora operates as an independent project built on NEAR's technology. It is not the same as NEAR Protocol itself. For Aurora development resources, visit Aurora's developer portal at aurora.dev.

The Rainbow Bridge is NEAR's trustless cross-chain bridge connecting the NEAR blockchain to Ethereum. To move ETH or ERC-20 tokens from Ethereum to the NEAR network, or to transfer NEAR-based assets back to Ethereum, the Rainbow Bridge handles that process without relying on a centralized intermediary. The bridge was designed specifically for the NEAR-Ethereum corridor. Visit the Rainbow Bridge at rainbowbridge.app for current transfer options and supported assets.

Where NEAR Is Going: The Blockchain Operating System

In 2023, NEAR Protocol expanded its vision beyond Layer 1 blockchain infrastructure. The project introduced the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), a framework for building and discovering open-source Web3 applications that are not tied to any single blockchain.

The premise behind BOS is that most Web3 applications depend on centralized front-end infrastructure, even when the smart contracts powering them are decentralized. BOS aims to provide a decentralized front-end layer where developers can build applications that work across multiple blockchains, and users can discover them through a shared interface.

This connects to NEAR's broader focus on chain abstraction: the goal of enabling users and developers to interact with any blockchain without needing to know which chain they are using. Rather than competing only as a Layer 1, NEAR positions itself as infrastructure for a multi-chain Web3 ecosystem.

NEAR's strategic terminology in this area continues to evolve. Verify current positioning at NEAR's official site near.org before citing specific BOS branding. Most published articles about NEAR Protocol predate this evolution and do not reflect NEAR's current direction.

How Does NEAR Protocol Compare to Ethereum and Other Blockchains?

NEAR Protocol competes in the Layer 1 smart contract blockchain space alongside Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Cosmos, and Polkadot. Each offers a different balance of speed, cost, decentralization, and developer tooling.

NEAR Protocol vs. Ethereum: Key Differences

The most significant architectural difference between NEAR Protocol and Ethereum is NEAR's live sharding implementation. Ethereum processes transactions on a single chain and is still rolling out its sharding roadmap. NEAR launched with Nightshade sharding at mainnet in 2020, distributing transaction processing across parallel shards from the start.

Five structural differences define the NEAR-Ethereum comparison:

1. Sharding: Nightshade sharding has been live on NEAR since mainnet. Ethereum's sharding roadmap remains in progress.
2. Transaction fees: NEAR transactions typically cost a fraction of a cent. Ethereum fees vary based on network demand and can reach several dollars or more during congestion periods. Verify current fee comparisons at live data sources before citing specific figures.
3. Smart contract languages: NEAR supports Rust and JavaScript. Ethereum uses Solidity and Vyper.
4. Account addresses: Human-readable names like yourname.near replace Ethereum's cryptographic hex format, reducing friction for new users.
5. EVM compatibility: NEAR provides Ethereum compatibility through Aurora, allowing Ethereum developers to deploy without code changes.

Ethereum has clear competitive advantages that this comparison requires acknowledging. Ethereum has the largest developer ecosystem of any smart contract blockchain, the deepest decentralized finance liquidity measured by total value locked (TVL), and the broadest institutional recognition. NEAR's technical architecture offers specific advantages for certain use cases, but Ethereum's network effects and track record represent genuine strengths.

While Solana achieves high throughput through a single optimized chain, NEAR distributes processing across parallel shards. Avalanche uses a subnet architecture for scalability, which differs architecturally from NEAR's sharding approach. Polkadot and Cosmos also use multi-chain architectures to achieve scalability, though each takes a different approach to how chains communicate and share security.

NEAR Protocol Comparison Table

Data note: TPS and time-to-finality figures change with network upgrades. Verify all figures at official documentation sources before citing. Qualitative descriptions are used where current exact figures require verification at publication.

Is NEAR Protocol a Good Investment?

Whether NEAR Protocol belongs in your portfolio depends on your investment goals, your view of the Layer 1 blockchain market, and your tolerance for the volatility inherent in all cryptocurrency assets.

Factors Some Investors Consider Positive

• Live sharding architecture: Nightshade sharding has been operational since mainnet launch, giving NEAR a scalability approach that Ethereum is still building toward
• Low transaction costs: Fees typically under $0.01 per transaction, which some investors view as relevant for high-frequency dApp use cases and developer adoption
• Developer language accessibility: Support for Rust and JavaScript lowers the barrier compared to Solidity-only chains, which some consider a long-term ecosystem growth factor
• Founder credentials: Co-founder Illia Polosukhin's co-authorship of "Attention Is All You Need" and his AI research background provide a credibility signal that few blockchain founding teams can match
• Strategic evolution: The BOS and chain abstraction vision positions NEAR beyond Layer 1 competition, extending its potential addressable market
• Carbon-neutral certification: Relevant for investors who weight environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in portfolio decisions

Factors Some Investors Consider Risks

• Competitive pressure: Ethereum retains the largest developer ecosystem and deepest DeFi liquidity. Solana and Avalanche also compete directly in the high-performance Layer 1 space
• Ecosystem scale: NEAR's total value locked in DeFi and active dApp counts remain smaller than Ethereum's, reflecting an ecosystem still building its network effects
• Market volatility: All cryptocurrency assets carry significant price volatility risk. NEAR is not exempt, and past performance does not indicate future results
• Execution risk on vision: NEAR's BOS and chain abstraction narrative is actively evolving. Strategic pivots carry execution risk regardless of the underlying technical quality
• Regulatory uncertainty: Crypto regulatory frameworks in major markets remain unsettled and could affect all Layer 1 tokens, including NEAR

How to Buy NEAR Protocol (Orientation Only)

To acquire NEAR tokens, you generally need to: (1) open an account on a reputable cryptocurrency exchange that lists NEAR, such as Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or OKX; (2) complete the exchange's identity verification process; and (3) purchase NEAR using fiat currency or another cryptocurrency. For a full step-by-step guide, see our guide to buying NEAR Protocol. Verify that your chosen exchange currently lists NEAR before proceeding.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. The factors listed above represent publicly available information, not a recommendation to buy or sell any asset.

Frequently Asked Questions About NEAR Protocol

The following questions reflect the most common things readers want to know about NEAR Protocol. Each answer is written to stand alone.

What is NEAR Protocol?

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain platform built for developing and running decentralized applications. It uses a sharding architecture called Nightshade to process transactions across parallel segments, enabling high throughput and low fees. The NEAR token is the native cryptocurrency that pays transaction fees, earns staking rewards, and participates in governance.

How does NEAR Protocol work?

NEAR Protocol works by dividing its blockchain into parallel processing segments called shards, handled by Nightshade sharding. Each shard processes a portion of the network's transactions simultaneously. The network reaches consensus through a proof-of-stake mechanism called Thresholded Proof of Stake, with Doomslug providing fast block finality. Developers build applications using smart contracts written in Rust or JavaScript.

What is the NEAR token used for?

The NEAR token is used for three primary functions on the NEAR Protocol network: paying transaction fees (gas) to validators for processing transactions, staking to earn rewards and support network security, and participating in protocol governance decisions. The token has a genesis supply of 1 billion and an annual inflation rate of approximately 5%.

Who founded NEAR Protocol?

NEAR Protocol was founded in 2018 by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov. Polosukhin is a former Google Brain researcher and co-author of "Attention Is All You Need," the 2017 paper that introduced the Transformer architecture behind ChatGPT and GPT-4. Skidanov is a former Microsoft software engineer. The mainnet launched in April 2020.

Is NEAR Protocol proof of stake?

Yes, NEAR Protocol uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Validators are selected based on the amount of NEAR tokens they have staked rather than computational power. NEAR's specific implementation is called Thresholded Proof of Stake (TPoS), with Doomslug as its block production and finality mechanism. This model requires no energy-intensive mining, making NEAR more energy-efficient than proof-of-work blockchains.

How is NEAR Protocol different from Ethereum?

NEAR Protocol differs from Ethereum in five key ways: NEAR uses live Nightshade sharding while Ethereum's sharding is still being rolled out; NEAR transaction fees are typically under $0.01 while Ethereum fees vary and can be significantly higher during congestion; NEAR supports Rust and JavaScript while Ethereum uses Solidity; NEAR uses human-readable account addresses while Ethereum uses hex strings; and NEAR provides EVM compatibility through Aurora. Ethereum has the larger developer ecosystem and deeper DeFi liquidity.

What is Nightshade sharding?

Nightshade sharding is NEAR Protocol's scalability architecture that divides the blockchain into parallel processing segments called shards. Each shard handles a portion of the network's transactions simultaneously, rather than queuing them sequentially. The shards communicate to maintain a single unified chain state. Nightshade has been live since NEAR's April 2020 mainnet launch and has expanded through multiple phases since then.

What is Aurora on NEAR Protocol?

Aurora is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility layer built on NEAR Protocol as an independent project. It allows Ethereum developers to deploy their existing Solidity smart contracts on NEAR without modifying any code, and lets users interact with Aurora-based applications using Ethereum wallets like MetaMask. Aurora is built on NEAR's technology but is not the same as NEAR Protocol itself. Visit aurora.dev for developer resources.

How do I buy NEAR Protocol?

To buy NEAR Protocol, you need to: (1) choose a cryptocurrency exchange that lists NEAR, such as Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or OKX; (2) create and verify your account by completing the exchange's identity requirements; and (3) purchase NEAR using fiat currency or another cryptocurrency. For a complete walkthrough, see our guide to buying NEAR Protocol. Verify exchange availability in your region before proceeding.

Is NEAR Protocol a good investment?

Whether NEAR Protocol is a good investment depends on your individual financial situation, risk tolerance, and investment goals. Some investors point to its live sharding architecture, low fees, accessible developer tooling, and the AI research background of its co-founder as positive factors. Others note the competitive pressure from Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, NEAR's smaller ecosystem scale, and general crypto market volatility as risks. This answer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Conclusion

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain that has built a technically distinct position in a crowded market. Its Nightshade sharding architecture has been processing transactions in parallel since the April 2020 mainnet launch. Its proof-of-stake consensus model is energy-efficient and carbon-neutral certified. Its human-readable account system and support for Rust and JavaScript lower the barrier for both users and developers. Co-founder Illia Polosukhin's background co-authoring the paper that introduced the Transformer architecture gives NEAR a founder narrative that connects the project directly to the AI research shaping the current technology landscape.

The network has also moved beyond its original Layer 1 scope. The Blockchain Operating System pivot in 2023 signals an ambition to become infrastructure for the broader multi-chain Web3 ecosystem, not just a competitor in the smart contract blockchain race.

Your next step depends on what brought you here:

• If you're new to NEAR, explore the current ecosystem and official documentation at NEAR's official site near.org.
• If you're evaluating NEAR as a portfolio addition, review live tokenomics data at current NEAR token data on CoinGecko and assess current ecosystem activity before forming a view.
• If you're considering building on NEAR, start with the developer documentation at docs.near.org and explore ecosystem grants through the NEAR Foundation at near.foundation.