@NEARProtocol's latest updates are worth checking out: 1/ Nearcore v2.8.0 upgrade: Chunk validators increased from 300 to 500, shard mandates raised from 65 to 105, significantly boosting security and decentralization. Shade Agent × Allora: AI agents introduce predictive models, focusing on price forecasts for NEAR, SOL, BTC, ETH, and more. Privacy cross-chain payments: Zashi CrossPay integrates NEAR Intents to enable cross-chain payments + privacy protection. 2/ Scaling and Security NEAR is increasing the number of validators to make the network more decentralized and prepare for higher throughput in the future. However, this also raises the operational threshold for nodes, requiring more tools to ensure stability. 3/ AI + Agents The collaboration between Shade Agent and Allora shows NEAR's ambition to position itself as an "AI-native blockchain." Smart contracts are evolving from passive execution → proactive prediction/action, which could be the next paradigm shift. The challenges lie in privacy, security, and whether real-world applications can materialize. 4/ Cross-chain + Privacy Zashi CrossPay introduces a new combination: cross-chain interoperability + privacy protection. This means users can transfer assets across chains while avoiding exposure of certain data. But it also comes with regulatory and security challenges, requiring ongoing audits and compliance considerations. 5/ Tokenomics Adjustment The NEAR community is discussing reducing the inflation rate from 5% to 2.5%. In the long term, this helps control supply, but in the short term, it may lower staking rewards, potentially impacting smaller validators. This is a trade-off between security and sustainability. 6/ Dev Insights: NEAR is evolving from a "high-performance L1" into an "AI-native + privacy + cross-chain" platform. These updates show its intent to carve out a differentiated position in the next cycle. The key questions are: Can it truly deliver? Will the ecosystem keep up? Is governance balanced?