NEAR Protocol (NEAR): what you need to knowNEAR Protocol (NEAR): what you need to know

NEAR Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to be fast, scalable and user-friendly. The network uses sharding, human-readable account names and account abstraction, so end users and developers can work with the blockchain more easily. The native token NEAR is used for staking, transaction fees and governance.

Whitepaper: https://www.lcx.com/near-mica-white-paper/

NEAR uses Nightshade, a sharding mechanism that splits the network into multiple parallel shards that process transactions simultaneously. Validators stake NEAR to produce and validate blocks and receive staking rewards in return. The network is also certified carbon neutral thanks to its Proof-of-Stake architecture.

• Ticker: NEAR

• Category: Layer 1

• Blockchain: NEAR Protocol

• Protocol: Nightshade Sharding (Proof of Stake)

• Year of launch: 2020

NEAR supports smart contracts in Rust and JavaScript, making it relatively easy for a wide range of developers to get started. NEAR also offers account abstraction with features such as function-call access keys and dApp-paid gas, and the network is connected to Ethereum and other chains through bridges and the Aurora EVM platform.

The NEAR ecosystem includes DeFi protocols, gaming, AI applications, NFT platforms and infrastructure providers. NEAR positions itself as a blockchain for consumer applications and AI agents, where users can access multiple apps with a single NEAR account. Aurora makes it possible to run Ethereum applications on NEAR with minimal code changes.

NEAR Protocol was founded by Alexander Skidanov and Illia Polosukhin in 2018. Polosukhin previously worked on AI at Google and is a co-author of the original transformer paper. Development is supported by the NEAR Foundation and a growing open-source community.

BTC Direct has been the European entry point to crypto since 2013. We make buying NEAR Protocol straightforward, even if it is your first time:

• Trusted in Europe. BTC Direct is registered with the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and operates under MiCA, the EU regulation for crypto.

• Familiar payment methods. Pay with iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort, SEPA bank transfer, credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay. Your NEAR is on its way within minutes.

• Your coins, your control. We do not store your NEAR. After your purchase, your coins are sent straight to your own wallet address.

• Based in the Netherlands, serving all of Europe. Our experts are based in the Netherlands and answer in your language across the SEPA zone. Need help? We are here.

• Start with a small amount. From just €30. The minimum varies per coin.

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For more technical information about NEAR Protocol, visit the official website.

Cryptocurrencies, including NEAR Protocol (NEAR), are volatile and carry risks. The value of NEAR can fluctuate greatly and investments can lead to financial losses. Always do your own research and only invest money that you are willing to lose.

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