## **Overview** NEAR is a decentralized development platform that uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism and will eventually feature a sharded architecture to scale transaction throughput. Its block generation scheme is called [Doomslug](https://near.org/blog/doomslug-comparison/) and its proposed sharding design is dubbed [Nightshade](https://near.org/papers/nightshade/#nightshade). These technologies will work together to scale the network and minimize congestion. NEAR has also been designed to be developer and user-friendly as it features a few key innovations to accelerate the application development and user-onboarding processes. The NEAR blockchain was created and developed by the NEAR Foundation. Its mainnet went live in April 2020, and network validators voted to unlock token transfers in October 2020. NEAR's bridge to Ethereum (called the Rainbow Bridge) launched in March 2021. ## **History** NEAR was originally [founded](https://near.org/about) as “NEAR.ai” in 2017 by [Illia Polosukhin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/illia-polosukhin-77b6538/) and [Alexander Skidano](https://www.linkedin.com/in/skidanovalex/). The project was dedicated to exploring [program synthesis proclaiming](https://near.org/blog/near-ai-near-protocol) (or computer-automated software development). After trying to build the project on Ethereum, the founders determined that the blockchain’s technology was insufficient for the full vision of the NEAR.ai project. In August 2018, the project team began developing the NEAR network to provide developers with easier tools to build scalable decentralized applications. After nearly two years, NEAR officially [launched](https://near.org/blog/near-mainnet-genesis/) in April 2020 and [performed](https://near.org/blog/near-mainnet-phase-2-unrestricted-decentralized/) the last phase of its mainnet launch (enabling token transfers) in October 2020. Functionalities such as decentralized applications, executing smart contracts, and transacting on the network are all live as a result of achieving mainnet. In September 2021, the protocol [launched](https://near.org/blog/near-launches-simple-nightshade-the-first-step-towards-a-sharded-blockchain) “Simple Nightshade,” kickstarting the Phase 0 sharding process for the network. In September 2022, the protocol [announced](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/09/12/near-blockchain-moves-ahead-with-phase-one-of-sharding-upgrade/) that it was moving forward with Phase One of the sharding process. On Jan. 30, 2024, the NEAR Foundation [announced](https://near.org/blog/phase-2-of-near-sharding-launches) the beginning of testing for Phase Two of Sharding via the introduction of stateless validation. Sharding enables NEAR validators to retrieve state change information directly from the network, rather than maintaining it locally. The launch of [Stake Wars IV: Attack of the Transactions](https://github.com/near/stakewars-iv) on Feb. 1, 2024, was designed to incentivize community participation in testing the new sharding architecture, with Phase Two [expected](https://near.org/blog/phase-2-of-near-sharding-launches#:\~:text=With%20the%20launch,in%20May%202024.) to be implemented on mainnet in May 2024. In March 2023, NEAR [announced](https://near.org/blog/near-announces-the-blockchain-operating-system) the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), which is designed as a common layer for browsing and [developing](https://docs.near.org/bos) open web experiences compatible with any blockchain. Nearcore [v1.36.0](https://github.com/near/nearcore/releases/tag/1.36.0) was released on Oct. 31, 2023. This release introduced a [protocol change](https://github.com/near/nearcore/pull/9219) (support for fixed shards in shard layout removed), [protocol upgrade](https://github.com/near/nearcore/releases/tag/1.36.0#:\~:text=This%20release%20contains%20a%20protocol%20upgrade.%20Voting%20for%20upgrading%20to%20protocol%20version%2063%20will%20start%20on%202023%2D11%2D13%2015%3A00%3A00%20UTC.) (voting to protocol version 63), [database upgrade](https://github.com/near/nearcore/releases/tag/1.36.0#:\~:text=This%20release%20contains%20a%20database%20upgrade.%20STATE_SYNC_DUMP_KEY%20and%20STATE_SNAPSHOT_KEY%20was%20added%20to%20the%20BlockMisc%20column%20for%20support%20of%20state%20sync.) (additions for support of state sync), and [non-protocol changes](https://github.com/near/nearcore/releases/tag/1.36.0#:\~:text=New%20option%20transaction_pool_size_limit,use.%20%239398). Nearcore [v1.36.5](https://github.com/near/nearcore/releases/tag/1.36.5) was released on Jan. 31, 2024, which “fixes a bug around shard management that, if exploited, can lead to a node crash crash.” In November 2023: - Polygon Labs and the NEAR Foundation entered into a [collaboration](https://polygon.technology/blog/polygon-labs-and-near-foundation-collaborate-to-build-a-zkwasm-prover-as-a-component-for-polygon-cdk) to develop a zero-knowledge (ZK) prover specifically designed for Wasm (WebAssembly) blockchains. Based on a commercially reasonable search, no verifiable planned release date for the ZK prover could be identified. A related development occurred on Jan. 18, 2024, when the collaborating teams announced that NEAR DA was available for [Polygon CDK](https://polygon.technology/polygon-cdk). - The NEAR Foundation [partnered](https://cointelegraph.com/news/near-partners-with-nym-for-privacy-encryption-services) with Nym Technologies to enhance security with end-to-end encryption and metadata privacy services. - The Near Foundation [partnered](https://near.org/blog/near-foundation-and-eigen-labs-partner-to-enable-faster-cheaper-web3-transactions-for-ethereum-rollups-via-eigenlayer?_gl=1\*1ck55gl\*_up\*MQ..\*_ga\*MTcyMjM3NjI5NC4xNzEyNzY5ODg5\*_ga_9GWCXQJ62J\*MTcxMjc2OTg4Ny4xLjAuMTcxMjc2OTg4Ny4wLjAuMA..) with Eigen Labs to begin development on the first-ever fast finality layer for Ethereum Layer-2s. This development is aimed at drastically reducing transaction times from minutes or hours to just three-to-four seconds, while also decreasing transaction costs by a factor of 4,000. - [NEAR DA](https://near.org/blog/near-foundation-launches-near-da-to-offer-secure-cost-effective-data-availability-for-eth-rollups-and-ethereum-developers?_gl=1\*lu79i2\*_up\*MQ..\*_ga\*MTUzMjA5ODgzMC4xNzEyODMyNjUy\*_ga_9GWCXQJ62J\*MTcxMjgzMjY0OS4xLjEuMTcxMjgzMjY1Mi4wLjAuMA..), a data availability solution for Ethereum rollups, was announced at [NEARCON '23](https://near.org/blog/nearcon-23-day-one-major-announcements-and-insightful-panels-in-focus?_gl=1\*oik8l4\*_up\*MQ..\*_ga\*MTAzMTU2MTExNi4xNzEyODMyNDcw\*_ga_9GWCXQJ62J\*MTcxMjgzMjQ2Ny4xLjEuMTcxMjgzMjUzNi4wLjAuMA..). By leveraging Nightshade's infrastructure, NEAR DA intends to prove a cost-effective way for rollups to store and access transaction data. As Nightshade evolves and the number of shards increases, NEAR DA enables rollups to run lightweight nodes that track only the relevant shard. On Jan. 1, 2024, NEAR Wallet was [discontinued](https://pages.near.org/blog/near-wallet-will-remain-online-until-the-end-of-the-year/), evolving into a wallet hub with migration options and continued asset security.