NEAR Protocol Surges Amid Improved Crypto Sentiment and AI Push

Near Protocol (NEAR) surged 13% in 24 hours as of 11:15 a.m. ET, becoming one of the biggest gainers in the cryptocurrency market.

The surge is attributed to improved investor sentiment viewing digital assets as a diversification tool and a focus on NEAR's AI applications.

NEAR's recent AI-powered super app, infrastructure developments like Confidential Intents and IronClaw, and a secure AI agent runtime are attracting attention from developers and investors.

Near Protocol (NEAR) has become one of the biggest gainers in the cryptocurrency market, with a 13% surge over the past 24 hours. This movement aligns with a broader shift in how investors perceive digital assets, increasingly viewing them as a tool for portfolio diversification rather than just a high-risk tech-linked asset.

The project is gaining traction for its push into AI applications. NEAR recently launched an AI-powered super app called Near.com, which integrates cross-chain swaps, privacy tools, and smart contract management into a single, user-friendly platform. This platform is reinforcing the protocol's appeal as a user-friendly gateway to decentralized services.

Infrastructure developments are also drawing attention. NEAR is deploying confidential cross-chain components, including Confidential Intents and IronClaw, as well as a secure AI agent runtime. These enhancements are positioning NEAR as a foundational layer for autonomous AI-driven agents and enterprise GPU markets, a theme that is attracting both developers and investors.

Why Is the NEAR Token Gaining Momentum Now?

NEAR's recent price surge is being fueled by on-chain metrics that suggest strong demand for the token and its ecosystem. These metrics include an increase in total value locked and a tightening float. Such indicators suggest that the market is backing the narrative around NEAR's AI and infrastructure developments.

Investor interest is also being driven by the broader trend of digital assets being seen as a diversification tool rather than a speculative asset. This shift is contributing to increased demand across the crypto market, with NEAR benefiting from its strategic positioning in the AI and decentralized services space.

What Investment Products Are Available for NEAR Exposure?

For investors interested in gaining exposure to NEAR without directly holding the token, the Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP is an option. The product is an exchange-traded note (ETN) with a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.85% per annum.

The ETP is physically backed, meaning it replicates the performance of the underlying index using actual physical holdings of the NEAR token. This structure provides investors with a cost-effective and transparent way to participate in the NEAR ecosystem. The product, launched on June 26, 2025, has assets under management of 20 million euros.

This product is particularly attractive for investors who want to engage with the NEAR ecosystem without the complexities of managing the token directly. It is suitable for both retail and institutional investors.

What Is Cisco's Role in NEAR-Related Technology?

While not directly related to the NEAR Protocol, Cisco Secure Workload's Global Visualization tool offers near real-time network visibility. This tool helps organizations analyze traffic flows, detect vulnerabilities, and improve their overall security posture.

The visualization tool includes interactive features such as node expansion, anomaly detection, and time-range filtering. Users can also filter by flow status and vulnerability severity to focus on the most critical network behaviors and threats. This functionality is useful for organizations looking to enhance their cybersecurity strategies.

However, it is important to note that Cisco's tool is not directly tied to NEAR's infrastructure or applications. The relevance of Cisco's product is more in the broader context of network and cybersecurity tools that are increasingly becoming important in the digital asset and decentralized technology ecosystems.