🤖 INFRASTRUCTURE: ⚡ NEAR connects staking with access to AI computing @NEARProtocol has introduced a new staking system for NEAR AI that enables users to fund private inferences and deploy autonomous agents using the near:native token as a mechanism for accessing computation. The model allows users to lock NEAR tokens and receive monthly processing credits proportional to their staked amount, eliminating the need for credit cards or external credential managers. The platform provides on-chain access to 43 AI models developed by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The proposal establishes a new relationship between token utility and AI infrastructure: assets used to consume computational services remain locked while generating working capacity, reducing available supply without users losing ownership of their funds. Unlike traditional payment models, where users acquire services through intermediaries, NEAR aims to create an economy in which the network’s native asset itself serves as collateral for accessing AI resources. However, the real impact will depend on platform adoption, demand for decentralized computing, and the model’s ability to compete with traditional AI infrastructure providers. The launch reflects a growing trend in blockchain: transforming native tokens into functional tools within new digital economies—here, driven by autonomous agents and artificial intelligence.