NEAR Protocol’s nearcore 2.13 upgrade has introduced quantum-resistant account signing based on ML-DSA-65, allowing users to add post-quantum keys without moving assets or creating new accounts. The optional feature arrived via technical proposal NEP-645, and co-founder Illia Polosukhin said account holders can strengthen security by changing their access keys. Existing keys and wallets continue to work, so protection only applies once users actively add and use the new ML-DSA-65 key.
Although the change is significant, it does not make the entire NEAR network quantum-resistant: validator keys still rely on existing cryptography. The 2.13 upgrade also added dynamic resharding, enabling shards to split automatically at defined state-size thresholds. A second proposal, NEP-655, would hide account keys entirely and is already running on a test network, with a full launch expected within weeks.
On-chain activity has expanded alongside the upgrade. NEAR Intents passed $33.29 billion in cumulative volume, including $4.76 billion over 30 days, with total value locked around $223 million. Of $7.81 million in monthly fees, $2.15 million was used to buy back NEAR and return it to holders. A draft proposal would also reduce maximum annual token issuance from 2.5% to 1.6% over two years.
The market response was sharp: NEAR rose more than 11% on Saturday and traded near $5.24, while total crypto market capitalization rose only about 0.5%. NEAR-focused ETFs drew about $5.13 million in one day, lifting assets to roughly $66 million. Analysts remain constructive: Michaël van de Poppe expects a short pullback before a move toward new yearly highs, and Jesse Olson noted a breakout from a 4.5-year downward trendline. Arthur Hayes reportedly remained bullish on NEAR.
