Alright, let's cut the crap. Another day, another crypto project claiming to be the "future," this time with extra AI sprinkles. NEAR Protocol, huh? Apparently, it's surging because of some "Intent layer" trading volume approaching $4 billion. Big deal. So what?

Intent Layer: Sounds Like Marketing BS

"AI-enabled derivatives trading?" Give me a break. It sounds like something a bot wrote after skimming a tech blog. The NEAR team is pushing this "robust infrastructure" line, hoping you'll forget that most crypto projects are just solutions looking for a problem.

This "Intent layer" thing is supposedly automating on-chain swaps. Okay, fine. But is it actually useful, or just a way to generate fees and pump the NEAR token? Because let's be real, most of these "innovations" are just elaborate schemes to separate retail investors from their money.

And this surge in trading volume? Bitcoin and Zcash are the hot tickets, huh? Color me shocked. It's always the same old suspects shuffling around. But hey, at least they can pay fees in stablecoins. Progress? I guess.

Retail Investors: The Usual Suckers?

The articles are saying retail interest is picking up, too. Futures Open Interest is up 65%? Translation: more people are gambling on this thing. The blind leading the blind. And the "OI-weighted funding rates" suggest bears are paying a premium to short it? So what? Doesn't mean it's a good investment, just means the market is irrational, as usual.

I mean, look at the price predictions. $5 by the end of 2025? $20 by 2029? Based on what, exactly? Hope and prayers? VentureBurn analysts "combine fundamental and technical factors" to pull these numbers out of their asses. They use "trained AI models and manual reviews." Right. Because AI can predict the future of crypto. That's not terrifying at all. NEAR Protocol Price Prediction 2025, 2026 to 2030

Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe this time it's different. Nah.

The Real Problem: Tokenomics and "Governance"

Oh, and NEAR is having a "crucial vote" to halve network rewards. From 5% to 2.5%. Exciting! Except, not everyone's happy, offcourse. The validators are whining because they'll make less money. One validator is calling it a "serious governance issue" and a "dangerous precedent."

Let's translate that: "Wah, I'm not getting as much free money anymore!"

And this is supposed to "incentivize the HODLing culture?" Seriously? People aren't going to HODL because of some feel-good vote; they're going to HODL if they think the price is going up. Which, let's be honest, is a crapshoot.

They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly... I'm starting to think the whole thing is just a house of cards waiting to collapse.

So, What's the Real Story?

It's the same old song and dance. Hype, pump, dump, repeat. NEAR Protocol might have some cool tech, but at the end of the day, it's just another crypto project chasing the AI bandwagon. Don't be the last one holding the bag.