- NEAR rises 11% to $2.98 as Nvidia’s $5 billion stake in Intel sparks AI-crypto rally.
- AI tokens gain ground with NEAR, TAO, Render and The Graph buoyed by optimism from chip deals.
- NEAR eyes a breakout to $3.60–$4.00 as AI adoption and bullish charts drive momentum.
The price of NEAR Protocol climbed more than 11% over 24 hours to reach $2.98 amid a broader rally in AI-linked cryptocurrencies.
The token’s surge coincided with market momentum triggered by Nvidia’s strategic $5 billion investment in Intel, with Bittensor, Render and The Graph among the notable AI crypto winners.
Some tokens saw outsized moves—Aster surged roughly 500% on Thursday following its token-generation event.
NEAR re-tests $2.98 as Nvidia news lifts AI tokens
NEAR Protocol experienced a sharp rebound, retesting the $2.98 resistance level after an 11% jump.
The move followed intraday lows near $2.70 earlier in the week and aligns with a broad crypto bounce coupled with Nvidia’s announcement of a $5 billion equity stake in Intel.
The deal includes collaborative development of PC and data-center chips optimized for artificial intelligence.
It underscores Nvidia’s push to strengthen U.S. semiconductor capabilities amid global supply-chain tensions.
The investment arrives at a critical moment for Intel, following a $9 billion U.S. government backing via the CHIPS Act and a $2 billion infusion from SoftBank, helping bolster Intel’s balance sheet and foundry ambitions without immediately relying on Nvidia’s manufacturing needs.
AI token surge
For the crypto AI ecosystem, the announcement amplified optimism: the partnership highlights the potential for AI chip manufacturers to innovate for expanding customer demand.
NEAR, designed as an AI-native blockchain with sharding technology capable of handling up to 100,000 transactions per second, stands to benefit if renewed AI momentum translates into price gains.
The protocol’s Nightshade consensus and developer tools such as Near Tasks for AI agents align well with Nvidia’s ecosystem, and strategic integrations could further accelerate the altcoin’s upside.
Nvidia’s news lifted the broader AI token sector as well: TAO rose about 7.7%, RENDER roughly 8% and The Graph (GRT) around 5.9%, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Wider market tailwinds, including Bitcoin reclaiming levels above $117,600, added further momentum to the rally.
NEAR’s market capitalization moved back above $3.7 billion, ranking it around 34th among leading cryptocurrencies.
What’s next for NEAR price?
NEAR’s near-term trajectory depends on sustained AI momentum and technical breakouts toward the $3.60 level.
Daily indicators such as the RSI and MACD support a continuation of bullish momentum.
A review of price action also suggests a possible breakout from a triangular consolidation pattern.
NEAR price chart from TradingView
Risks remain: macroeconomic headwinds, potential U.S. regulatory scrutiny around AI chips, or broader crypto volatility could weigh on gains. Still, NEAR could see prices above $4 in the coming weeks if bullish conditions persist.
Protocol upgrades and wider AI adoption trends may allow bulls to target higher levels, with optimistic scenarios reaching up to $8.
On the downside, primary support could be found near $2.62.