NEAR Protocol Launches ‘Staking for NEAR AI,’ Offering AI Credits for Token Deposits

NEAR Protocol said on July 31 on X, formerly Twitter, that it is introducing a payment model that lets users stake tokens to access artificial intelligence services.

Called “Staking for NEAR AI,” the service gives users credits for AI computing when they stake tokens, without requiring them to spend those tokens. Users who stop using the service can unstake and recover their deposited tokens.

Users will be able to access 43 AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google without creating separate accounts.

NEAR Protocol called the service the first to connect token staking with the use of AI services. It said wider AI service usage could result in more tokens being staked, reducing circulating supply.