NEAR Protocol (NEAR) has risen by 7% as traders seek short-term gains amid a rally in AI-related crypto tokens. Currently trading at approximately $1.62, NEAR has seen a 32% increase in daily trading volume to about $295 million, indicating renewed buying interest. This surge has allowed NEAR to outperform many peers despite broader market pressures. The rally is driven by a shift towards projects linked to on-chain compute and dApp ecosystems, alongside a broader surge in AI-themed tokens. The market sentiment is also buoyed by anticipation of Nvidia's Q1 earnings report on May 20, which has positively impacted AI-heavy crypto names. Technically, NEAR's daily chart suggests a bullish outlook with a cup-and-handle pattern forming, supported by strong trend indicators and momentum tools. If the bullish momentum continues, NEAR could target $2.00–$2.50, provided volume remains high. Immediate support is at $1.50, with potential downside risk to $1.20 if this level is breached.