NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain designed to support scalable, user-friendly decentralized applications (dApps). It uses a unique consensus mechanism called Nightshade sharding, which improves scalability and reduces transaction fees. NEAR offers high throughput, low latency, and a developer-friendly environment with support for smart contracts in Rust and JavaScript. It emphasizes usability with features like human-readable account names and progressive onboarding. The native token, NEAR, is used for transaction fees, staking, and governance. With a strong focus on scalability and accessibility, NEAR is positioned as a major player in the Web3 and blockchain ecosyst$NEAR