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Škoda India, in collaboration with NEAR Protocol, announces its foray into the world of NFTs and blockchain technology with Škodaverse India. This new platform forms a part of the global Škodaverse initiative and will bring a fresh wave of digital innovation to Škoda automobile fans in India.

Škoda, one of Europe’s biggest car manufacturers headquartered in the Czech Republic, is quickly becoming one of the most forward-thinking industry brands in Web3 and the metaverse. Late last year, the company announced its global Škodaverse initiative, integrating virtual test drives and NFTs into an immersive environment.

And now the Škodaverse is coming to the Indian market, powered by the NEAR Protocol, that will enable Škoda fans to buy, trade, and engage with NFTs in Web3. It’s a crucial step in the brand’s journey towards building a tight-knit community of Škoda loyalists, offering a space for fans to connect, co-create, and establish long-term relationships with the brand.

Steering Škoda fans towards NFTs with NEAR

Mr. Christian Cahn von Seelen – Executive Director of Sales, Marketing, and Digital, Škoda at Auto Volkswagen India – expressed excitement at the unveiling of the Škodaverse India NFT platform. He envisions it as a dynamic hub for connection and creativity, exemplifying Škoda’s commitment to its customers and fans in India. The Škodaverse India will offer unique and immersive experiences to a rapidly growing market.

“Škodaverse India signifies the brand’s leap into uncharted digital territory,” said von Seelen. It’s not just about creating extraordinary digital assets, it’s about forging deep connections with a community that shares an unwavering passion for the brand and its initiatives in India. It also showcases our commitment to sustainability and innovation, through leveraging carbon-neutral blockchain technology that enables secure, transparent, and decentralized transactions.”

Škodaverse India is designing its metaverse platform to be exciting and engaging for Škoda enthusiasts of all demographics, whether they’re familiar with blockchain technology or not. Whether it’s an image, video, sound, or ticket, each NFT collection released on the Škodaverse India platform will be curated to create memorable driving experiences

The first NFT collection, honoring sustainability, will be created on NEAR Protocol. As a South Pole-certified, carbon-neutral blockchain, NEAR’s eco-first philosophy aligns seamlessly with Škoda India’s sustainability efforts.

Driving Škoda India’s Web3 Strategy into the future

As part of the brand’s intensified Web3 strategy, Škoda Auto India is collaborating with Antier, a leading blockchain consulting firm, to foster the creation and minting of innovative NFTs. Each NFT collection released on the Škodaverse India platform will be thoughtfully curated to represent memorable driving experiences. 

These unique collectibles will unlock exclusive experiences, strengthening the bond between Škodaverse and its community of users. The Škodaverse India platform also ensures users stay updated with the latest in the creation and sale of NFTs. Users can sign in, create, and maintain their profiles, and monitor for updates via Škodaverse India’s Discord, Telegram, and Twitter.

With the launch of Škodaverse India, Škoda Auto India embraces blockchain technology, signaling a significant move towards Web3 applications. Powered by NEAR Protocol, Škodaverse India will offer engaging, community-building experiences, further solidifying Škoda’s position as a forward-thinking automobile brand in Web3 and the metaverse.

NEAR Foundation is thrilled to share some inspiring news today. The I-AM-HUMAN project, a cornerstone proof-of-humanity initiative of the NEAR Digital Collective (NDC), just achieved a significant landmark of welcoming 1,000 verified community members to our growing ecosystem. 

This critical milestone underscores the NEAR Foundation and NDC’s commitment to fair and equitable digital governance and representation built on NEAR.

The impact of I-AM-HUMAN’s 1,000 verified users

What does it mean to have 1,000 verified users? Simply put, it means 1,000 verified, unique human voices; 1,000 individual perspectives; and 1,000 contributors to NEAR Foundation’s mission of democratizing the digital world. 1,000 verified community members now have the opportunity to engage in governance voting, build an on-chain reputation, drive grassroots funding, and unlock the truly transformative power of DAOs.

This active engagement is helping reshape the way key decisions are made, moving away from centralized control and towards a truly decentralized, democratic governance model. 

Distributing voting power to the people with “Soul Bound Tokens”

I-AM-HUMAN is all about fairly distributing voting power to the people. At its heart is the concept of “Soul Bound Tokens” or SBTs. These aren’t your average digital tokens —each SBT represents a real individual, flesh-and-blood human being, verified through our innovative and user-friendly proof-of-humanity identity verification process. SBTs are the digital embodiment of you, assuring that your voice counts, and making the principle of “one person, one vote” a reality in the digital realm.

Minting your SBT is easy and only requires a NEAR wallet and your (adorable) human face. And don’t worry about what you look like since the image is encrypted and never seen by anyone. In fact, you always have the right to request the deletion of your data from I-AM-HUMAN and our partner Fractal. If you haven’t yet done so, give it a shot! It only takes a minute or two and we would love to have you be part of this important initiative. 

We’ve made sure the process of getting your unique SBT, or putting a digital stamp on your individuality, is simple and accessible. With Fractal’s help, we’ve been able to keep this process secure and respectful of your privacy rights, which for the NDC, is of paramount importance. 

“With the creation of the I-AM-HUMAN protocol, NDC sets a new standard for on-chain identity verification, empowering individuals to assert their humanity securely and transparently in the digital realm,” says Jane Wang, Product Lead at NDC Governance Working Group. “The I-AM-HUMAN protocol opens up a world of opportunities, from secure voting and governance participation to fair airdrops and reputation systems. We’re thankful for our partnership with Fractal, who has made the journey smooth with their field-tested identity solutions at NEAR.”

Other NDC Initiatives on the horizon

As NEAR Foundation and the NDC celebrate this major milestone, the commitment to innovation and improvement continues. The NDC is determined to provide an ever-improving experience for users, with initiatives underway to constantly improve user experience, strengthen data privacy, and expand our availability within the NEAR ecosystem. The NDC is actively creating a partnership roadmap for other organizations to leverage our proof-of-personhood solution, helping to empower our partners to ensure equitable decision-making within their own ecosystems.

The journey to 1,000 users has been exciting, but the NDC is far from finished. Every new user brings us one step closer to NEAR’s vision of a digital world where each individual’s voice is respected, and where the democratic process isn’t just a principle, but a practice.

So, if you haven’t already, we invite you to become a part of this revolutionary journey. Mint your own SBT, join our community, and make your unique mark in shaping the future of decentralized governance.

The NDC extends its deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for taking the opportunity to unlock elections, governance, and community treasury with us. These first 1,000 users are opening the door for thousands more to come. 
For updates, follow NDC on Medium and stay connected with us on this revolutionary journey!

Last year’s NEARCON was epic. NEARCON 2023 will be iconic. 

While all of you have been diligently building NEAR into one of the best ecosystems in the blockchain world, NEAR Foundation has been planning a 4-day journey into an open web. 

Let’s take a quick look at everything we have to share (so far). 

What to expect at NEARCON 2023

For this year’s NEARCON, we’re expanding. There will be two venues — NEARCON HQ and Hack HQ. 

Most of the action will happen at NEARCON HQ. But if you’re a hacker, or just like hanging with them, you can do that at Hack HQ.

At NEARCON, you can expect to:

Get your early bird tickets now!

NEARCON 2023 tickets are $20 off until July 1. So, don’t wait — snag your ticket for $79 now because after July 1st they are $99. 

NEAR Foundation is also offering another deal. If you refer 4 friends to NEARCON 2023, you will get a special gift upon check-in at the conference. 

Become a Speaker or Sponsor

Thinking about becoming a NEARCON speaker? We’d love to hear from you. 

Speaking spots always go fast, so make haste. Apply to speak at NEARCON here. 

Psstt… we’re looking for technical applications that don’t just shill but highlight problems being solved — on the BOS and the wider open web. 

Apply for the Hackathon and get in for free

NEAR and NEARCON loves its hackers. And to show it, we’ve made it so that any builder or developer who applies for the hackathon gets in for free. 

Find more information about the NEARCON 2023 hackathon here.

NEAR is a home to a number of amazing apps and projects. These developers, founders, and entrepreneurs are using NEAR to effortlessly create and distribute innovative decentralized apps, while helping build a more open web — free from centralized platforms. In recent installments, NEAR Foundation explored the BOS with Pagoda’s Chief Product Officer Alex Chiocchi, heard from OnMachina co-founder Jonathan Bryce on building decentralized storage, and dove into Move-to-Earn with Sweat Economy’s Oleg Fomenko.

In the latest case study video, Bernouilli-Locke founder David Palmer details how his group is implementing a DAO for team ownership and governance for SailGP boat racing, by leveraging the power of NEAR.

Layer-twos (L2s) have become increasingly popular as a scaling solution for layer one (L1) blockchains in the past several years, especially after Ethereum decided to scale via a rollup-centric roadmap. A layer-two is a protocol built on top of an existing blockchain to improve its scalability, throughput, or privacy and reduce the congestion and cost of operating on the L1 blockchain. NEAR, on the other hand, chose to scale through a different approach: sharding. In this post, I’ll explain the rationale behind NEAR’s approach and why NEAR does not plan to scale through layer 2.

To understand the differences in scaling approaches, let’s first take a look at how layer 2s work. Generally speaking, layer 2s work by performing state transitions outside of (or off-chain from) the layer 1 they build on and committing state roots and transaction data to the underlying layer 1. Depending on how exactly the state transitions are verified, these may be optimistic rollups, which rely on fraud proofs, or ZK rollups, which use zero-knowledge proofs to show the validity of the layer 2 state transition.

The premise of scaling through rollups is that a rollup has higher throughput than the underlying L1 due to decreased consensus overhead; there could be many rollups running as their own chain and processing different transitions. The underlying L1 provides security for rollups as a settlement layer, and rollups offer scalability in return. This offloads the significant challenge of scalability onto a protocol that exists outside of the L1 and therefore simplifies the L1 protocol design. Ethereum, for example, is well known for its plan to scale through rollups such as Arbitrum, Optimism, ZkSync and Polygon zkEVM.

How well does this promising design approach work in practice? While it may still be too early to say, given that Ethereum is the only major blockchain adopting this approach and that L2s themselves are relatively nascent, there are lessons to be learned already. First, composability between layer 2s is a problem. While each rollup itself has higher throughput than Ethereum, rollups lack the native interoperability that allows contracts from different rollups to interact with each other. Each one can only interact with the Ethereum L1. Composability is especially important for financial applications and is arguably what makes the Ethereum L1 so successful. 

Second, while in theory rollups should work together to scale Ethereum, in practice the overall scaling achieved by rollups collectively is not much more than what one rollup offers. That is mostly due to the fact that popular Ethereum dapps run on almost all rollups and as a result, similar transactions are “duplicated” across different rollups. The transactions to use DeFi applications such as Uniswap on different rollups actually compete for call data space on Ethereum for data availability.

In contrast, NEAR scales through sharding, or parallelizing the network into partitions that are built into the protocol itself, with the same security guarantees of the L1 blockchain. NEAR’s architecture is, in some sense, similar to Ethereum with rollups, where each shard is similar to an optimistic rollup. The difference is that because sharding is built into the protocol, applications on one shard can natively interact with applications on another shard. The homogeneous sharding model also means that two apps interact in the same way regardless of whether or not they are deployed on the same shard. As a result, not only do developers not need to care about which shard to deploy their applications on, they also have the peace of mind that their application can freely interact with any other application deployed on NEAR without having to resort to third-party bridges. 

While composability is a nontrivial advantage of NEAR’s sharding approach, it is not all NEAR has to offer. Fast finality on NEAR means that users can be confident that their transactions are finalized in two to three seconds. In the rollup world, however, transaction finality is much worse. Optimistic rollups are known for their long exit time (usually 7 days) and ZK rollups are bottlenecked on proof generation, which takes up to 10 minutes today. Furthermore, in NEAR’s sharding model, since both processing and state are completely sharded, the throughput almost scales linearly with the number of shards. Thanks to the native composability mentioned above, developers and users truly benefit from the scalability as one application is only deployed once on one shard, unlike the current state of rollups where many popular applications have to be deployed on many rollups, which reduces the amount of true parallelism in transaction processing.

This is not to say, however, that NEAR’s approach is superior. Sharding makes the protocol very complex, hard to understand, and difficult to implement. In comparison, the rollup-centric approach taken by Ethereum has a relatively simple design, even though it still requires data availability sharding (Danksharding) for layer 2s to work efficiently.

Ultimately, the different choices on scaling approaches reflect different design philosophies of the underlying protocol. Ethereum wants the protocol itself to be maximally robust and resilient and therefore it is important to minimize the complexity of the L1 protocol design. NEAR, on the other hand, prioritizes simplicity for developers and users and is willing to make the protocol more complex under the hood for the sake of a better experience for its users.

It is worth noting that NEAR is not just a blockchain protocol, but an operating system that offers a common layer for browsing and discovering open web experiences and is compatible with any blockchain. Despite the differences in protocol design, NEAR as the blockchain operating system allows developers and users from different blockchains, including Ethereum layer 2s, to build and use applications across many different blockchain ecosystems. 

Web3 builders, developers, and founders are gearing up to join the Encode x NEAR Horizon Bootcamp starting July 10th, 2023 to upgrade their building, development, and coding skills. Following the recent partnership between NEAR Horizon and Encode Club, the bootcamp is part of a broader initiative to accelerate blockchain expertise with a focus on developing Rust smart contracts.

Encode Club is a community that helps builders grow their technical capabilities with tangible results, such as completing projects, promoting employability, and gaining funding. This mission aligns seamlessly with NEAR Horizon, a new branch of the NEAR Foundation fostering innovation and development among early stage Web3 Founders building in the NEAR ecosystem

If you’re a self-starting developer hungry to learn more about building on NEAR, then the NEAR x Encode Club Bootcamp might just be the perfect crash course to get started and progress rapidly. Apply here for the NEAR x Encode Bootcamp. Here’s the lowdown on what the bootcamp will entail and how NEAR builders can fast track their Web3 skillset and knowledge base to the next level.

Ranking up in Web3 with the NEAR x Encode Club Bootcamp

Firstly, selected participants can attend the bootcamp for free, reflecting Encode Club’s commitment to supporting Web3 builders. The 90-minute lessons will be conducted via Zoom (or similar), Monday through Thursday over the course of eight weeks, and feature an engaging mix of deep educational content focused on smart contract development as well as hands-on learning from Encode Club technical experts.

Mentors will guide participants through a variety of topics and related subjects, demystifying  the myriad of concepts and nuances inherent in blockchain development. The focus will be primarily on the NEAR ecosystem, with the goal of ensuring that everyone gains the practical skills and knowledge to excel, succeed, and create in the rapidly evolving Web3 world. 

Calling all coders: Bootcamp application and selection process

There are no official prerequisites to applying for the bootcamp. However, previous coding and Web3 or blockchain experience (particularly with RUST) will help you get the most from the sessions. The Bootcamp is also part-time, giving attendees flexibility with their full-time commitments.

After registration, the pool will be whittled down to a shortlist who will be asked to conduct a brief interview before being formally selected and invited to attend. At this time, selectees will be asked to provide a small deposit, repaid when the Bootcamp concludes. The cohort size will be roughly 50 people, with Encode Club assisting in job placement once finished.

The NEAR x Encode Club Bootcamp is a perfect example of the work NEAR Horizon is doing as a startup support platform for the entire ecosystem. Any builders, developers, or NEAR blockchain enthusiasts should apply directly through Encode Club right away, as cohort space is currently limited. To learn more about NEAR Horizon or to list your project on the Horizon platform, visit near.org/horizon.

Your mission – should you choose to accept and sign the transaction – is to master Web3 at the NEAR x Encode Club Bootcamp. Apply now and report for duty on July 10th!

NEAR Foundation is excited to announce that NEAR will be returning to ETHCC 2023. The Foundation will be hosting a 2-day side event at the Paris tech conference on July 16-17.

NEAR experts will be on hand at ETHCC to share the latest updates for building apps on the open web  with the BOS  — an industry-first OS that makes it easy to use the tools you already know to build apps that engage users, while fostering an open web untethered from centralized platforms. 

Also, learn how your project can get funding and other support from NEAR Horizon, the new Web3 startup platform built on the BOS. 

NEAR at ETHCC — What to expect

NEAR is hosting a two-day ETHCC side event on July 16-17th, that will feature Technical Workshops (BOS) hosted by Pagoda, a Horizon Pitch Competition, small ETH research group workshops (invite only), and other speaker sessions, keynotes, and panels. You can’t forget about our exclusive networking and happy hours!

Learn from the best in the NEAR ecosystem about what makes the BOS so revolutionary. Ask your questions. Learn in-person. Make connections!

Agenda: NEAR at ETHCC

NEAR’s 2-day ETHCC side event will be located at the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle: Verniquet. 

Day 1: Technical Day 

Structure for Day 2: Founders Day 

NEAR Speakers at ETHCC

Stay updated on the complete slate of confirmed speakers and sessions at Near.org/ETHCC. 

Register for NEAR at ETHCC
Explore the BOS

NEAR is a home to a number of amazing apps and projects. These developers, founders, and entrepreneurs are using NEAR to effortlessly create and distribute innovative decentralized apps, while helping build a more open web — free from centralized platforms. In recent installments, NEAR Foundation explored the BOS with Pagoda’s Chief Product Officer Alex Chiocchi, and heard from OnMachina co-founder Jonathan Bryce on building decentralized storage. 

In the latest case study, Sweat Economy founder Oleg Fomenko talks about revolutionizing fitness with blockchain technology. Aside from talking about Sweat Economy’s integration with NEAR, Fomenko also talks about integrating the Sweat Wallet app with the BOS. With over 6 million active users, the Sweat Wallet is the most active dApp on NEAR. 

Watch the Sweat Economy Case Study video below.

Sweat Economy’s Learn & Earn program brings in over 200,000 users

As part of its partnership with NEAR Foundation, Sweat Economy launched its Learn & Earn feature in the Sweat Wallet to educate users about Stablecoins and promote USDT on NEAR in the Sweat Wallet. 

In Sweat Economy’s Learn & Earn Program, which ran from May 23-31, Sweat Wallet users were rewarded with 1 USDT by completing the “What are Stablecoins?”  lesson and an interactive quiz. In total, 100,000 USDT was given out as rewards in this initiative. In just 9 Days: 

In a pivotal partnership for the blockchain industry, NEAR Foundation is joining forces with Mirae Asset — a subsidiary of Asia’s largest financial group Mirae Asset Global — to help bridge the gap between trad-fi and Web3. This collaborative endeavor will thrust Web3 into the spotlight in the traditional finance market in South Korea and the larger Asian region, driving innovation and growth in the sector.

With the guidance of the NEAR Korea Hub, this partnership places NEAR Foundation and Mirae Asset at the helm of the Web3 business domain. Together, they will conduct in-depth research and foster collaboration on blockchain technology, laying a robust foundation for the use of Web3 by the traditional financial industry in the region.

Simultaneously, global joint events are in the pipeline to bolster brand visibility, coupled with a planned mutual support system. This system will fortify the Web2/Web3 business network, carving out a strong pathway for the integration of these technologies.

NEAR and Mirae Asset: propelling finance into the Web3 age

NEAR is a global Layer 1 protocol with a strong emphasis on usability (NEAR Protocol). With its new Blockchain Operating System (BOS) feature FastAuth, NEAR offers a user-friendly gateway into the world of Web3, mirroring the simplicity of email login. By presenting accessible solutions through BOS, it eases the transition for traditional businesses and developers. This ease of entry into Web3 fosters an environment conducive to the growth of innovative financial services.

“Our agreement with Mirae Asset will provide a platform for us to showcase the capabilities of NEAR Protocol and its powerful Blockchain Operating System to help transform the finance industry,” Marieke Flament, CEO of the NEAR Foundation. “We look forward to supporting this important partnership and helping to play a key role in transforming the future of Web3 finance.”

A major financial player partners with NEAR Foundation

Entering into an alliance with NEAR Foundation, Mirae Asset demonstrates its mission to transform into a top-tier global investment bank. Providing standout services in corporate finance, trading, wealth management, and private equity investments, it’s redefining the finance industry.

“We will continue to innovate and develop the foundational blockchain technology that underpins the Web3 industry,” said Ahn In-sung, Head of the Digital Division at Mirae Asset. “We will actively collaborate with exceptional blockchain communities like NEAR Protocol to incorporate the technology into our global business.”

Mirae Asset’s pursuit of innovation is embodied in the creation of the “Next Finance Initiative” (NFI). Teamed with South Korea’s key players like SK Telecom and Hana Financial Group, this partnership signals an intriguing expansion for the NEAR ecosystem. Another feature of this partnership involves NEAR Foundation joining the practical discussion body via the working group.

The NEAR Korea Hub, responsible for business expansion across Korea and other Asian regions, has been instrumental in forming this partnership. The Hub views this alliance as a significant leap showcasing NEAR Protocol’s potential in the financial industry.

“NEAR Foundation is expanding the horizons of Web3 industry by onboarding leaders in the gaming industry (Kakao Games Bora, WeMade, and Netmarble) and Mirae Asset, a pioneer in the financial industry,” said Scott Lee, General Manager, NEAR Korea Hub, commented. “NEAR Foundation will continue to expand its reach through collaborations with industry leaders to actively drive the transformation of the existing financial paradigm.”

In essence, this alliance between NEAR Foundation and Mirae Asset marks a turning point in the realm of Web3 finance, firmly rooted in the innovative and scalable infrastructure of the NEAR Protocol, NEAR Foundation, and ecosystem.

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