NEAR Stands Out as Crypto Capital Rotates Toward AI Assets

NEAR Protocol emerged as a standout among AI-linked crypto assets during a week of broad market weakness, as Bitcoin and Ether declined and capital rotated from liquid DeFi and large-cap tokens toward AI-related assets. Bitcoin (BTC) fell 3.2% during the covered week, while Ether (ETH) dropped 7.0%. The S&P 500 rose 1.2% over the same period. U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs recorded weekly outflows. Crypto liquidations reached $1.19 billion over 24 hours around the market low, including approximately $1.06 billion in long positions. Only 11 of 66 large-cap altcoins finished the week higher.