Near Protocol (NEAR) is experiencing a steep price rally. NEAR was trading at around $1.30 in early May, and has more than doubled in the time since, hitting $2.72 today, May 26, 2026. According to CoinGecko data, NEAR’s price has rallied by 14.2% in the last 24 hours, nearly 70% in the last week, 76.5% in the 14-day charts, and 93.5% over the previous month. Let’s discuss what could be pushing Near Protocol’s (NEAR) price amid a larger bearish market.

What’s Fueling Near Protocol’s Price Rally And Will It Continue?

Near Protocol (NEAR) is an AI-based cryptocurrency. The asset’s ongoing price surge could be due to the larger AI upswing that has engulfed the entire planet. AI-based stocks and platforms are seeing incredible growth, Nvidia (NVDA) being the prime example. The Near Protocol blockchain is home to several AI-driven applications, and this factor seems to be a primary driver for its price rally. Near Protocol enables AI agents to secure wallets and assets, operate on supported chains and engage with decentralized marketplaces.

Given the larger AI surge, there is a possibility that Near Protocol’s (NEAR) price rally will continue over the coming days. However, the cryptocurrency market comes with its own set of risks. Bitcoin (BTC), the market leader, is struggling to gain momentum. BTC’s price fell to $76,000 after briefly reclaiming the $82,000 mark. BTC’s correction often leads to other assets losing steam as well. NEAR could follow a similar trajectory. Investors could book profits and move their funds to safer assets.

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Moreover, macroeconomic uncertainties continue to worry investors. Inflation data in the US came in higher than anticipated, and the chances of an interest rate cut are very low. The development could lead to investors moving away from high-risk assets, such as Near Protocol (NEAR). Such a move could lead to a price correction for the AI-focussed cryptocurrency.