NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is showing bullish momentum as analysts look for a possible breakout, while viewing any short-term pullback as a buying opportunity for the token. At the same time, expanded support for AI-powered cross-chain payments is strengthening blockchain interoperability and reinforcing NEAR’s role in decentralized financial infrastructure.

At the time of writing, NEAR is trading at $1.73, with a 24-hour trading volume of $99.73 million and a market capitalization of $2.26 billion. Despite signs of stability over the past 24 hours, the price structure and network growth point to a potential bullish reversal ahead.

Source: CoinMarketCap

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NEAR Price Eyes Breakout Above $1.85

According to crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe, NEAR is showing improving technical strength as bullish momentum gradually builds after its recent recovery.

Analysts are closely watching the $1.85 resistance level, which could determine the next directional move. A successful breakout above this level would confirm stronger buying interest and raise the likelihood of a continued upward trend in the coming sessions.

Source: Michael van de Poppe’s X Post

Failure to move above $1.85 soon should not be interpreted as weakness, but rather as an opportunity for buyers to accumulate at lower levels. A correction could give buyers a chance to enter at cheaper prices as the market begins moving higher again. As long as NEAR does not fall below the stated support levels, the outlook remains bullish.

NEAR Intents Expands MPP to More Than 30 Blockchains

NEAR Protocol also said that the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), an AI-driven payment protocol created by Stripe and Tempo, has been enhanced with NEAR Intents, adding cross-chain functionality.

The integration allows AI-driven agents using MPP to make cross-chain payments across more than 30 blockchains through the NEAR network.

Source: NEAR Protocol’s X Post

NEAR said the development positions the network as an important settlement layer for the fast-growing economy of agent-driven artificial intelligence, where an increasing number of independent software agents carry out financial transactions autonomously. For readers tracking NEAR beyond short-term chart levels, this gives a clearer link between network usage and the token’s broader ecosystem narrative, since payment routing and cross-chain settlement are central to how such systems function.

By offering cross-chain settlement capabilities, NEAR could generate more payments, improve blockchain interoperability, and support adoption of AI-enabled financial applications.

What Happens Next?

If NEAR breaks above $1.85 and holds that level, it would confirm a stronger bullish trend and could encourage more buyers to enter NEAR tokens.

The rollout of NEAR Intents and AI-powered cross-chain payments across more than 30 blockchains may also increase network activity and interoperability. That makes the coming updates worth watching not only for traders focused on resistance levels, but also for users following whether NEAR’s payment infrastructure continues to expand across chains.

Also Read: NEAR Price Eyes $30 Breakout as AI Staking Launch Boosts Network Utility

This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always DYOR. Not financial advice.