NEAR Protocol (NEAR), a layer-1 blockchain designed for high-throughput applications via sharding and developer-friendly tooling, is exhibiting signs of a potential bullish reversal as selling pressure diminishes and key support levels hold firm. Simultaneously, the NEAR AI Cloud is advancing its confidential AI infrastructure through integration with Intel verification, a move that positions the network within the growing intersection of blockchain and privacy-preserving AI compute—an area attracting enterprise interest as concerns over data sovereignty and model confidentiality intensify.

At the time of writing, NEAR is trading at $1.65, with a 24-hour trading volume of $188.57 million and a market capitalization of $2.15 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. The token has gained 5.49% over the past 24 hours, and both its price structure and network growth indicators suggest a bullish reversal may lie ahead.

NEAR Price Targets $2.40 as Reversal Pattern Emerges

Crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe noted in an X post that NEAR's price is displaying signs of a potential reversal after successfully defending a major higher-timeframe support zone. A bullish MACD divergence—a technical signal where price lows stabilize while momentum indicators turn upward—suggests that selling pressure may be easing, though the signal remains weaker than the previously observed RSI divergence.

This configuration suggests the correction could be approaching exhaustion, with buyers potentially positioning for a renewed recovery effort provided support continues to hold.

The first critical resistance level sits near $1.85. A decisive break above this threshold would establish a higher high, reflecting improved market structure and the formation of higher lows on the subsequent rally. Should that occur, the NEAR price would target $2.40. If momentum continues to improve, the broader outlook favors testing new highs by Q4 2026.

NEAR AI Cloud Enhances Privacy Through Intel Trust Authority

NEAR Protocol announced in an X post that NEAR AI Cloud has upgraded its AI infrastructure to strengthen security through integration with Intel Trust Authority. Leveraging Intel's established role as a long-standing confidential hardware partner, NEAR AI Cloud utilizes Trusted Execution Environments—hardware-isolated execution zones within processors that protect data during computation—to provide protected execution environments for workload processing and data isolation.

Additionally, Intel signs attestations for each confidential inference workload, enabling users to independently verify the execution environment. This means users are not solely reliant on infrastructure assurances but can validate security claims themselves—a capability that aligns with emerging regulatory expectations around AI transparency and verifiable compute, particularly relevant under frameworks like the EU AI Act.

This development has potential applications for projects involving proprietary models, financial data, private datasets, and other sensitive information. It also places NEAR among a cohort of networks, including chains leveraging SGX and TEE-based compute, competing to offer verifiable AI infrastructure at a time when enterprise demand for confidential computing is projected to grow significantly.

Outlook for NEAR

NEAR's price trajectory will likely depend on whether buyers can sustain support levels while pushing above $1.85. A successful breakout could pave the way toward the $2.40 target. Meanwhile, expanded adoption of NEAR AI Cloud with Intel verification may contribute to greater enterprise adoption and overall network utility. Metrics to monitor include NEAR AI Cloud workload volume, developer activity on the network, and any partnership announcements involving enterprise or institutional participants.

However, the broader cryptocurrency market trend remains cautious. A breakout could prove unsustainable if bearish conditions persist across the sector.