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CryptoMedium•23 February 2026•

1 min read

NEAR Protocol Reaches Economic Maturity with 50% Inflation Cut and AI Integration

Golden Bitcoin symbol in front of a screen showing cryptocurrency price charts

Key Facts

1NEAR supply is fully unlocked and inflation has been reduced by 50%.

2NEAR Intents settled over $13 billion in cross-chain volume.

NEAR Protocol has officially transitioned into a phase of economic maturity by fully unlocking its token supply and slashing its inflation rate by 50%. This strategic move is designed to eliminate long-term sell pressure and establish a more sustainable economic model for the network. The protocol's cross-chain settlement tool, NEAR Intents, has demonstrated significant traction, processing over $13 billion in volume to date. In a major utility expansion, the NEAR token has been designated as the native payment currency for AI services within its ecosystem. By integrating blockchain with AI services, the protocol aims to drive organic demand and increase the token's fundamental value. Analysts view these updates as a bullish signal, reflecting a more mature and revenue-focused ecosystem for NEAR/USD.