Sal Ternullo: Near achieves product market fit with AI-driven transactions, cross-chain capabilities enhance user experience, and the token is undervalued based on fundamentals | Bankless

Near's integration of AI and blockchain aims to revolutionize self-sovereign transactions and unlock new market potential.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 28, 2026

Key takeaways

• Near has achieved product market fit by supporting fast-growing ecosystems.
• Near’s technology advancements in AI and cross-chain capabilities are pivotal.
• The pivot towards AI infrastructure aligns with Near’s foundational goals.
• Near is positioning itself as a platform for AI-driven, self-sovereign transactions.
• Billions of agents will transact at frequencies beyond human capabilities.
• Near intents enable seamless transactions across platforms, enhancing user experience.
• Near’s cross-chain communication layer demonstrates its product market fit.
• The Near token is potentially undervalued based on its fundamentals.
• Near’s value accrual strategy focuses on vertical integration rather than just protocol level.
• Vertically integrated products in Near offer a compelling investment case.
• Near’s strategic vision involves integrating AI with blockchain for innovative solutions.
• The evolution of Near’s technology reflects its commitment to engineering excellence.

Guest intro

Sal Ternullo is the CEO of SVRN, where he focuses on commercializing the NEAR ecosystem rather than simply holding the asset. He has been a vocal advocate for NEAR as “AI money,” pointing to NEAR Intents, privacy, tokenomics, and agentic commerce as core pieces of its evolving thesis.

Near’s product market fit and ecosystem growth

• Near has finally found product market fit supporting some of the fastest growing ecosystems in the industry.

  — Sal Ternullo

• Near’s recent developments have solidified its position in the crypto market.
• Understanding the challenges Near faced in the past is crucial to appreciating its current success.
• Near’s strategic focus on AI and cross-chain capabilities has been key to its growth.

• This is the result of five years of really top notch engineering and delivery.

  — Sal Ternullo

• Near’s engineering efforts have culminated in successful product market fit.
• The ecosystem’s rapid scaling is a testament to Near’s technological advancements.
• Near’s alignment with fast-growing ecosystems highlights its strategic positioning.

AI infrastructure and strategic alignment

• Near’s pivot towards AI infrastructure is seen as a return to its original mission.

• I would describe this not as a pivot but as a returning to roots.

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  — Sal Ternullo

• The strategic shift aligns with Near’s foundational goals.
• Near’s AI focus is not a deviation but a continuation of its core objectives.
• Understanding Near’s original mission provides context for its current strategy.
• The alignment with AI infrastructure is a strategic move to enhance its ecosystem.
• Near’s development in AI is a natural progression of its technological capabilities.
• The focus on AI infrastructure is integral to Near’s long-term vision.

AI-driven transactions and self-sovereignty

• Near is positioning itself as a platform for AI-driven transactions.

• I look at near as a token as ai money.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The integration of AI with blockchain is central to Near’s strategy.
• Near’s approach emphasizes self-sovereign financial transactions.
• The use of Near tokens as a settlement mechanism is innovative.
• Near’s vision involves creating a native asset for value exchange.
• The focus on AI-driven transactions highlights Near’s forward-thinking approach.
• Understanding the role of blockchain in AI integration is crucial for Near’s strategy.

The future of agent-based transactions

• There will be billions of agents transacting at unprecedented frequencies.

• We’re gonna have billions of agents that will do transactions at a frequency and velocity.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The prediction emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in financial systems.
• Agent-based transactions will surpass human capabilities in speed and volume.
• The shift towards agentic interactions represents a new era in financial technology.
• Understanding current trends in AI is essential to appreciate this forecast.
• The scale of agent-based transactions will redefine financial interactions.
• Near’s strategic vision includes preparing for this shift in transaction dynamics.

Near intents and user experience enhancement

• Near intents enable seamless transactions across various platforms.

• It’s just a seamless user experience unified liquidity.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The focus on enhancing user experience is central to Near’s strategy.
• Near intents simplify user interactions with complex technologies.
• The integration of AI and blockchain improves transaction processes.
• Near’s approach to user interfaces is innovative and user-friendly.
• Understanding the interaction between AI and blockchain is key to Near’s strategy.
• The seamless nature of Near intents highlights its commitment to user experience.

Cross-chain communication and market fit

• Near demonstrates product market fit through its cross-chain communication layer.

• Almost 20,000,000,000 in total volume that’s been processed.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The cross-chain layer is crucial to Near’s market performance.
• Near’s technology facilitates seamless cross-chain transactions.
• Understanding the role of Near’s intents in cross-chain communication is essential.
• The significant volume processed indicates Near’s market success.
• Near’s cross-chain capabilities are a testament to its technological innovation.
• The focus on cross-chain communication highlights Near’s strategic positioning.

Token valuation and market perception

• The Near token is mispriced based on its fundamentals and tokenomics.

• The asset being mispriced based on fundamentals and tokenomics.

  — Sal Ternullo

• Near’s tokenomics provide a strong case for reevaluation of its market value.
• The perception of mispricing reflects analysis of Near’s fundamentals.
• Understanding Near’s tokenomics is crucial for assessing its market valuation.
• The potential undervaluation presents investment opportunities.
• Near’s market perception may change as its fundamentals are recognized.
• The analysis of token valuation is important for investors and stakeholders.

Value accrual through vertical integration

• Near’s approach to value accrual focuses on vertical integration.

• Build these vertical products so near intents being the first.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The strategy involves integration at the application and middleware layers.
• Near’s value accrual mechanism differs from Ethereum’s protocol-level focus.
• Understanding the differences in value accrual is crucial for ecosystem comparison.
• The strategic approach facilitates value accrual across the entire stack.
• Near’s integration strategy is intentional and core to its value proposition.
• The focus on vertical integration highlights Near’s innovative approach to value accrual.

Investment potential in Near’s integrated products

• Near’s vertically aligned products present a compelling investment case.

• Having these vertically integrated products presents a really compelling upside case.

  — Sal Ternullo

• The integration of products enhances Near’s investment potential.
• Understanding investment strategies in blockchain ecosystems is crucial.
• Near’s product integration affects token value and investment appeal.
• The strategic advantages of Near’s integration are important for investors.
• The potential for scaling presents significant investment opportunities.
• Near’s integration strategy aligns with its long-term vision for growth.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.