NEAR Protocol Historical Price and Returns Analysis: Should I Buy NEAR Now?

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive review of NEAR Protocol’s historical prices and market fluctuations since its inception, combining data from bull and bear market phases to assess the potential returns for investors purchasing 10 NEAR tokens. We address the critical question: “Should I buy NEAR now?” to help both newcomers and long-term investors identify optimal entry points and growth opportunities.

Early Market Launch and Initial Cycles: Historical Price Review (2020 to 2022)

NEAR Protocol emerged as a highly scalable base layer protocol designed to enable decentralized applications (DApps) to run efficiently on mobile devices through state sharding technology. According to market data, NEAR tokens began trading at approximately $100.00 in early 2020.

The following outlines NEAR’s price movements during its initial market phases:

2020

• Opening Price: $100.00
• Closing Price: $1.48
• Highest Price: $100.00
• Lowest Price: $0.631
• Annual Return: -98.52%

2021

• Opening Price: $1.73
• Closing Price: $14.39
• Highest Price: $16.24
• Lowest Price: $1.73
• Annual Return: +731.06%

An investor who purchased 10 NEAR tokens during the early bull market phase in 2021 would have experienced initial gains, though subsequent market cycles would significantly impact overall returns.

Bear Market Adjustment and Mid-Cycle Analysis: Returns and Risk Assessment (2022 to 2023)

During this period, NEAR experienced severe price compression, reflecting broader cryptocurrency market headwinds in 2022 followed by a partial recovery in 2023.

The following illustrates potential returns for investors purchasing 10 NEAR tokens during these phases:

2022

• Opening Price: $13.52
• Closing Price: $1.28
• Highest Price: $20.14
• Lowest Price: $1.28
• Annual Return: -90.57%

2023

• Opening Price: $1.65
• Closing Price: $3.65
• Highest Price: $3.80
• Lowest Price: $1.03
• Annual Return: +121.55%

Recent Market Cycles: Should I Buy NEAR Now? (2024 to 2026)

Recent years have witnessed NEAR experiencing renewed volatility, with market participants debating whether the token has entered a new bull phase or remains in consolidation.

2024

• Opening Price: $3.21
• Closing Price: $5.90
• Highest Price: $8.25
• Lowest Price: $2.75
• Annual Return: +83.61%

2025

• Opening Price: $4.97
• Closing Price: $1.73
• Highest Price: $4.98
• Lowest Price: $1.51
• Annual Return: -65.20%

2026 (to date)

• Opening Price: $1.70
• Closing Price: $1.69
• Highest Price: $1.70
• Lowest Price: $1.69
• Annual Return: -0.49%

Potential returns for investors purchasing 10 NEAR tokens during this recent period have been mixed:

• 2024: +83.61% annual return
• 2025: -65.20% annual return
• 2026 (to date): Minimal volatility with -0.49% annual return

Summary: Bull Markets, Bear Markets, and Investment Timing Analysis

NEAR Protocol’s price history from 2020 through 2026 reveals extreme volatility characteristic of early-stage blockchain protocols. The token has experienced cycles of explosive gains followed by severe drawdowns, reflecting both technological development progress and broader cryptocurrency market sentiment shifts. Current price levels present a significantly different risk-reward profile compared to previous entry points, with investors needing to carefully evaluate their risk tolerance and market outlook before determining whether current valuations represent an opportune moment to accumulate NEAR tokens.