Hey NEAR community and innovators! 👋

If you follow technology, two terms have dominated the conversation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3. On the surface, they might seem like separate revolutions. AI is about intelligent machines and data, while Web3 is about decentralization and ownership.

But what if I told you they aren't separate? What if they are two sides of the same coin, destined to solve each other's biggest problems?

At NEAR, we don't just see this as a possibility; we see it as the inevitable next step. We are building the foundational layer where AI and blockchain converge to create a more intelligent, transparent, and equitable digital world. Let's explore this incredible frontier.

Welcome to the final chapter of our "NEAR From the Ground Up" series.

In NEAR 101, we introduced you to the user-friendly experience of NEAR. In NEAR 201, we toured the vibrant ecosystem and the core technology of Nightshade Sharding. You’ve seen the "what" and the "how."

Now, it's time for the "why."

In this advanced deep dive, we're speaking directly to the builders, the visionaries, and those who want to understand the long-term economics and philosophy that drive us. Let's explore why NEAR isn't just another blockchain—it's the foundation for a more open, fair, and composable digital future.

In our first two articles, we journeyed from the basics of Starknet as an Ethereum scaler to the vibrant ecosystem powered by the STRK token. Now, we venture to the edge of what's possible. We're going to explore a concept so powerful it could redefine the entire landscape of decentralized finance: making Bitcoin a productive, yield-bearing asset, trustlessly.

This isn't just an upgrade; it's about unlocking the largest, most secure asset in the digital world. This is the future Starknet is building.

Hello again, builders and explorers!

Welcome back to our "NEAR From the Ground Up" series. In our first post, NEAR 101, we covered the fundamentals: what NEAR is, its user-friendly features like human-readable names, its incredible speed, low cost, and our commitment to sustainability.

Now that you've got your .near wallet, you're probably asking, "What's next? What can I actually do?"

In this second installment, we're going beyond the basics. We'll take a tour of the vibrant NEAR ecosystem, look under the hood at the groundbreaking tech that powers it, and show you how you can play an active role in the network.

In our last post, "Starknet 101," we introduced Starknet as a high-speed expressway for Ethereum, making transactions faster and dramatically cheaper using STARK technology. You understand the "what" and the "why." Now, let's dive deeper into the "how" and explore the vibrant world built on top of this technology and the token that powers it all.

Welcome to the Starknet ecosystem.

Hey NEARverse! 👋

Welcome to the first post in our three-part series, "NEAR From the Ground Up." As part of the NEAR marketing team, I'm thrilled to guide you on your journey into our ecosystem. We'll start with the basics and, by the end of this series, you'll have a solid understanding of why NEAR is revolutionizing the internet.

So, grab a coffee, get comfortable, and let's dive into the world of NEAR!

Have you ever heard of Ethereum, the "world computer" that allows us to build decentralized applications (dApps)? It's incredible, but like any popular highway, it sometimes gets too crowded. When too many people try to use it at once, the costs (known as "gas" fees) skyrocket and transactions slow to a crawl.

This is where Starknet arrives like a superhero. 🦸