EL7.AI
CryptoUpdated•Originally published 29 May 2026•Updated 29 May 2026•
2 min read

NEAR Protocol Launches Universal Send for Seamless Cross-Chain Transfers and Privacy

Key Facts

1NEAR Protocol launched Universal Send, a tool combining bridging, swapping, and settlement in a single transaction.
2The new feature provides high privacy by hiding sender data and transferred amounts from public explorers.
3NEAR price rose 11.76% in 24 hours to reach $2.

In a move aimed at addressing the complexities of cross-chain interoperability, NEAR Protocol has launched Universal Send, a tool that integrates bridging, swapping, and settlement into a single transaction. According to reports, the new feature provides enhanced privacy by shielding sender data and transaction amounts from public blockchain explorers. The market responded aggressively to the launch, with the NEAR token price jumping over 10% in 24 hours to reach approximately $2.56, extending weekly gains past 20% as trading volumes surged above $815 million.

This development arrives as Layer-1 networks race to implement 'chain abstraction' solutions, with NEAR competing against protocols like Solana and Polkadot to attract users by simplifying the user experience. Compared to the previous quarter, market data shows continued growth in developer activity on the NEAR network, while peer tokens such as SOL and DOT recorded mixed price performance per market data. Experts suggest that incorporating Zcash-like privacy features could provide NEAR with a competitive edge in the decentralized finance sector.

Investors should monitor the sustainability of this price momentum following the breakout, as NEAR traded at $2.56 (close May 29, 2026). Looking ahead, digital asset sentiment may be influenced by broader economic catalysts, including the U.S. Core PCE Price Index which reported at 0.2% on May 28, 2026. This data point offers insights into inflation trends and monetary policy, which directly impact risk appetite across the cryptocurrency markets.