NEAR has launched Near.com, a new consumer wallet and crypto app built to make blockchain feel closer to a mainstream finance product. The pitch is simple: users should not have to think about gas fees, private keys, or switching across multiple chains just to manage digital assets in one place.
The release also places NEAR squarely at the intersection of crypto and artificial intelligence. During the presentation, co-founder Illia Polosukhin said AI is becoming the interface for processing. Polosukhin previously co-authored the paper that introduced the transformer model, the architecture behind systems such as ChatGPT and other large language models, and he has increasingly focused on how blockchain infrastructure can support the next wave of AI-driven applications.
One interface for bitcoin, stablecoins, NFTs, and more
Near.com supports a range of digital assets, including bitcoin, stablecoins, NFTs, and other tokens. NEAR’s goal is to pull activity that is usually spread across different wallets and networks into a single interface. That reduces some of the friction that has long made crypto difficult for everyday users.
Polosukhin said users should be able to treat the product as their primary wallet without needing to think about blockchains, gas, or keys. That user-experience angle sits at the center of the launch. NEAR is not presenting Near.com as a tool for experienced on-chain users alone.
NEAR’s bigger bet is on AI agents that transact
The company is using the launch to make a broader argument about where crypto demand may come from next. NEAR says AI agents are becoming capable of handling tasks such as booking travel, managing email, and making online purchases. As those systems take on more responsibility, they will also need the ability to send payments, receive funds, and settle transactions.
That is where blockchain infrastructure comes in, according to the company. Polosukhin said that as AI systems begin interacting with one another, they effectively become economic actors: software programs that negotiate, pay, and coordinate work. In that model, crypto becomes the financial layer that lets those agents operate, while Near.com is designed to serve both as a user-friendly wallet for people and as an economic engine for AI-driven activity.
Confidential mode targets privacy limits of public blockchains
Privacy formed a major part of the announcement. Public blockchains have historically leaned on transparency, with transaction activity often visible to anyone. That can help with verification, but it can also expose sensitive financial information. Polosukhin said that level of transparency is not realistic for regular, everyday use.
To address that issue, NEAR introduced a confidential mode inside Near.com. The company said the feature allows balances, transfers, and trading activity to remain private within the network’s security framework. NEAR argues that this makes the wallet more practical for individuals and businesses, while also giving AI agents a way to transact without exposing strategies or sensitive data.
From building the stack to pushing adoption
The launch also signals a shift in emphasis for NEAR. Polosukhin said the project already has the stack, the components, and the product, and is now turning its attention to scaling adoption and reaching billions of users worldwide. Following the announcement, the NEAR token was down nearly 3% over the past 24 hours.