NEAR

Introduction

NEAR partnered with Penrose Partners to evolve from a developer-centric blockchain into a robust ecosystem ready to engage enterprises and governments. Over four years, Penrose played a key role in supporting the re-positioning of NEAR to attract new markets. 

The Company

The NEAR Foundation stewards the NEAR Protocol. NEAR delivers a user-focused, decentralized ecosystem at global scale by combining sharded scaling, AI-native transactions, and cross-chain functionality.

The Challenge

• Enterprise-Ready Positioning: NEAR needed to shift from a developer-focused platform to one that could engage enterprises, governments, and regulators.
• Institutional Market Penetration: The network required clear use cases to appeal to national institutions and move beyond its developer-only perception.
• Ecosystem Fragmentation: Dispersed DAOs and developer groups lacked strategic coordination, limiting overall network growth.

The Solution

• Ecosystem Audit and Analysis: Conducted an in-depth audit of NEAR’s strengths in NFTs, DeFi, and DAOs, identifying high-impact projects to drive growth among new markets. 
• Government Engagement: Facilitated trade delegations between NEAR and governments, connecting key stakeholders and fostering institutional adoption.
• Strategic Partnership Development: Positioned NEAR as a headline sponsor at events such as the International Tech Summit, enhancing brand visibility in key markets.

The Results

• Roadmap Development: Audited the NEAR developer ecosystem and provided strategic roadmap suggestions for transitioning to an institutional-grade blockchain.
• Event Marketing Impact: NEAR’s event sponsorship strategy resulted in visibility amongst  250+ qualified prospects within digital finance, expanding brand presence.
• Institutional Market Access: Established relationships with top insurance firms and governments, deepening engagement in key jurisdictions.

“Penrose Partners has been a trusted strategic partner in NEAR’s evolution from a developer-focused protocol to an ecosystem ready for institutional and government engagement. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and consistent quality of work sets them apart from other advisories. Over four years, they delivered thoughtful analysis, facilitated meaningful relationships, and executed with precision – all of which were critical in positioning NEAR for long-term success in new markets.” Abhishek Vaidyanathan, General Counsel, NEAR Foundation

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