**NEAR Protocol: Scalable, User-Friendly Blockchain for Web3**
🌐 **What is NEAR?**
A high-speed, low-cost blockchain using **Proof-of-Stake (PoS)** and **sharding (Nightshade)** for scalability.
🔑 **Key Features:**
✅ **Fast & Cheap:** Low fees, 1-2 sec finality.
✅ **Dev-Friendly:** Code in Rust/JS, easy tools.
✅ **User-Friendly:** Simple names (e.g., `alice.near`).
✅ **Ecosystem:** DeFi (Ref Finance), NFTs (Mintbase), DAOs.
💰 **$NEAR Token:**
- Used for fees, staking, and governance.
- Rewards for validators/delegators.
🚀 **Why NEAR?**
Competes with Ethereum/Solana by balancing **speed, cost, and usability**—perfect for Web3 and dApps!