NEAR Protocol's native token has surged approximately 50% over the past week, reaching $2.34, marking a six-month high. This rise positions NEAR at the forefront of a broader rally in AI-themed cryptocurrencies, with trading volumes surpassing $1 billion and short liquidations exceeding $9 million. The surge is partly attributed to positive sentiment following Nvidia's revenue outlook, which has boosted enthusiasm for AI-adjacent tokens. The upcoming v2.13 network upgrade, scheduled for June 2026, is also contributing to NEAR's momentum. This upgrade will introduce dynamic resharding, allowing the network to scale automatically, and post-quantum cryptographic features to enhance security. Additionally, NEAR is focusing on AI-specific tools, such as confidential treasuries and privacy features for AI transactions. The token has seen a cumulative 90-day gain of about 115%, with increased inflows into related investment products like the Bitwise Near Staking ETP.