The price of the NEAR Protocol has surged by over 11% in the last 24 hours, reaching $2.98 amid a broader rally in AI-related cryptocurrencies. This jump coincides with Nvidia’s major $5 billion investment in Intel, sparking optimism in the crypto AI market.
NEAR Price Tests $2.98 Following Nvidia’s Investment
NEAR Protocol’s token has experienced a significant increase, retesting the resistance level of $2.98 after a rise of 11%. This surge follows a dip to $2.70 earlier in the week, aligning with a general cryptocurrency rebound and Nvidia’s announcement of its $5 billion stake in Intel.
The deal includes collaborative efforts in developing AI-optimized data center and PC chips, signaling Nvidia’s commitment to strengthening U.S. semiconductor capabilities amid global supply chain tensions.
This investment arrives at a crucial time for Intel, following a $9 billion government investment from the U.S. via the CHIPS Act and an additional $2 billion funding from SoftBank, enhancing Intel’s balance sheet and its foundry ambitions without immediate reliance on Nvidia’s manufacturing needs.
AI Tokens Experience Explosive Growth
Nvidia’s decision has amplified optimism within the AI crypto ecosystem, highlighting the potential for AI chip manufacturers to “innovate for clients” as they expand their operations. NEAR, designed as an AI-native blockchain with sharding technology capable of supporting up to 100,000 transactions per second, is poised to benefit significantly from this momentum.
The protocol’s Nightshade consensus and tools such as Near Tasks for AI agents resonate with Nvidia’s ecosystem, and key integrations could lead to significant price gains for the altcoin.
Nvidia’s recent pump has also elevated the entire AI token sector: TAO gained 7.7%, RENDER rose by 8%, and The Graph (GRT) saw a 5.9% increase, according to CoinMarketCap data. Broader market winds, including Bitcoin’s recovery to over $117,600, have further contributed to this upward momentum.
As a result, NEAR’s market capitalization has climbed back above $3.7 billion, placing it at the 34th rank among major cryptocurrencies.
What’s Next for NEAR’s Price?
The future trajectory of NEAR will depend on sustained AI momentum and technical breakouts targeting the $3.6 mark. Both the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) on the daily chart support continued price increases. A potential triangular pattern breakout is also visible on the chart.
However, macroeconomic headwinds such as potential U.S. regulatory scrutiny on AI chips and broader cryptocurrency volatility pose risks to NEAR’s price trajectory. Despite these challenges, NEAR holds the potential to exceed $4 in the coming weeks. Ongoing project protocol upgrades and global trends in AI adoption could see bullish targets reach as high as $8, while strong support is likely around $2.62.
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