NEAR’s AI Money Thesis: Intents, Privacy, and Tokenomics | Sal Ternullo

NEAR Protocol is transitioning into a foundational AI infrastructure layer, positioning its native token as "AI money" to facilitate autonomous agentic commerce. By leveraging NEAR Intents and Ironclaw, the protocol enables seamless, private, and secure cross-chain transactions, solving major user experience issues that have historically hindered blockchain adoption. This vertical integration strategy, where first-party applications drive direct value accrual to the token through fee burns, distinguishes NEAR from other ecosystems. Sal Ternullo, CEO of Sovereign, highlights that NEAR’s current growth in platforms like the Zashi and Infinex wallets serves as a proving ground for this broader vision. As AI agents begin to transact at scale, NEAR’s architecture is designed to capture significant value, potentially positioning the protocol as a critical, underpriced utility for the future of decentralized, agent-driven economic activity.