NEAR Protocol is a decentralised, layer-1 blockchain focused on scalability, usability, and security for building decentralised applications (dApps). It uses Nightshade sharding and a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus for efficiency and offers features like human-readable accounts and compatibility with JavaScript and Rust. NEAR integrates AI with Web3, enabling decentralised AI-driven apps through low-cost storage and interoperability. Its native token, NEAR, powers transactions, staking, governance, and developer incentives. Founded in 2018 by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov, NEAR fosters innovation in blockchain and AI.