The NEAR network in review: core technologies and use cases

NEAR offers an optimal mix of high speed, low cost, and seamless scalability, powering unique applications and use-cases for the decentralized web. With functions like a unique sharding technology and an Ethereum bridge, the NEAR network acts as the base layer for over 900 applications and stands out as a competitive solution for use cases in need of high throughput and low transaction fees.

This report centers around the NEAR network's core technologies, projects, use cases, and community-building initiatives to help you assess the value of the NEAR ecosystem in today’s competitive crypto landscape.

Topics covered in this paper include:

• The state of NEAR: history, network decentralization, and key metrics 
• Essential developer tools and NEAR’s advantages over other networks
• The technological building blocks and the innovations that make it unique
• Use cases: an overview of six niches, from consumer to corporate and DeFi
• The most important projects enabling interoperability on NEAR
• Potential use cases and future opportunities
• The NEAR community: partners, ecosystem funds, and regional hubs