NEAR Protocol Slashes Inflation 50% as Intents Product Hits $13B Volume

Edgen Crypto

·Feb 24 2026, 01:22

Share to

Share to

Copy link

Key Takeaways

NEAR Protocol has announced a significant evolution of its economic model, signaling a new phase of maturity. The update includes a major reduction in token inflation and coincides with substantial growth in its cross-chain and AI-focused products, positioning the ecosystem for future expansion.

Inflation Cut: NEAR Protocol has slashed its token inflation by 50%, a move designed to enhance long-term value accrual for the $NEAR token.
Supply Unlocked: The entire circulating supply of NEAR tokens is now fully unlocked, which could introduce short-term price volatility but provides greater market clarity.
Product Traction: The platform's NEAR Intents product has successfully settled over $13 billion in cross-chain volume, demonstrating strong user adoption and utility.

Tokenomics Mature with 50% Inflation Reduction

On February 23, 2026, NEAR Protocol initiated a pivotal update to its tokenomic structure, effectively cutting its inflation rate by 50%. This change is designed to increase the scarcity and long-term value of the NEAR token. Concurrently, the protocol has fully unlocked its entire token supply, removing future inflation cliffs and providing a clear picture of the total circulating assets. While a fully unlocked supply can introduce potential for short-term price fluctuations, the move signals a project maturing from initial distribution to sustainable economic growth.

NEAR Intents Drives $13 Billion in Cross-Chain Volume

The tokenomic shift is supported by strong fundamental growth within the NEAR ecosystem. The platform's NEAR Intents product has proven to be a significant success, settling over $13 billion in transaction volume across different blockchain networks. This high level of activity highlights the product's utility and market fit. Further strengthening its strategic position, the NEAR token is now being integrated as the native payment method for a suite of AI services, tapping into one of the technology sector's fastest-growing markets. This dual focus on cross-chain interoperability and AI positions NEAR to capture value from multiple high-growth verticals.