NEAR Protocol Integrates With Nasdaq and New York Exchange
The network connects its transaction layer to traditional markets while upgrading to post-quantum security standards.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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NEAR Protocol has integrated its transaction layer, NEAR Intents, with Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. This initiative connects the blockchain protocol to traditional financial markets while simultaneously deploying a post-quantum security upgrade to its mainnet.
Why it matters
The integration signals a shift toward bridging decentralized transaction protocols with established stock exchange infrastructure. By incorporating post-quantum security measures, the protocol aims to safeguard assets against future decryption threats posed by quantum computing developments.
The system utilizes the ML-DSA standard, formerly known as Dilithium, to secure transactions. Implementation required only 200 lines of code, leveraging the account model's ability to rotate cryptographic keys without requiring asset transfers.
The players
NEAR Protocol
A sharded, proof-of-stake blockchain network that focuses on usability and integrating traditional finance with decentralized systems.
Nasdaq
A global technology company serving capital markets through its stock exchange operations and trading infrastructure.
New York Stock Exchange
A major global stock exchange that provides the regulatory and physical infrastructure for securities trading.
The details
NEAR Intents functions as a middleware layer that scans across markets to identify counterparties capable of fulfilling user requests, bypassing the need for existing onchain trading pairs. To transition to quantum-resistant security, users can upgrade accounts through the Meteor Wallet. The system is designed to add or rotate cryptographic keys, allowing the network to adopt new signature schemes like ML-DSA without disrupting the underlying user experience.
Timeline
July 2026: NEAR deployed its first post-quantum signing curve, Dilithium, to the mainnet.
The Tech Race
This development places NEAR in direct competition with other blockchain networks attempting to bridge the divide between decentralized liquidity and institutional finance. It marks a departure from closed-ecosystem trading, following the NIST-standardized trend of adopting post-quantum algorithms to secure financial infrastructure.
Users can now upgrade existing account signatures to the post-quantum ML-DSA standard via the Meteor Wallet without moving assets. While institutional integration expands the protocol's reach, individual users benefit from the security upgrade immediately through these updated wallet capabilities.
The takeaway
NEAR Protocol is actively shifting toward institutional interoperability while hardening its network against quantum-decryption risks. Interested users should monitor for the forthcoming integration of the ML-KEM cryptographic standard, which will further secure the network's communication layer.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Quantum Computing infrastructure and security standards.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
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