NEAR Protocol has rolled out a significant mainnet upgrade that introduces two major technological advancements simultaneously, positioning the network among the first blockchain platforms to combine dynamic resharding with quantum-resistant cryptographic security. The upgrade is designed to improve the network’s long-term resilience while enabling it to scale automatically as demand grows.
The latest release activates quantum-safe signing on the NEAR mainnet, making the blockchain one of the first production networks to implement a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-approved post-quantum digital signature scheme. The development is intended to protect blockchain transactions and digital assets against future threats posed by quantum computing, which researchers believe could eventually compromise traditional cryptographic methods.
The implementation of NIST-approved post-quantum signatures marks a major security milestone, positioning NEAR among the first blockchain networks to deploy quantum-resistant cryptography in a live production environment.
The upgrade also introduces dynamic resharding, a feature that enables the blockchain to adjust its capacity automatically in response to network activity. Unlike conventional sharding systems that require manual configuration or predetermined scaling parameters, dynamic resharding allows the protocol to create or merge shards based on transaction demand. This approach is expected to improve network efficiency while maintaining consistent performance during periods of increased usage.
Automatic Network Scaling
Dynamic resharding is regarded as an important step toward solving blockchain scalability challenges. As decentralized applications, users, and transactions continue to grow, blockchain networks often face congestion and higher processing costs. By enabling the protocol to scale itself automatically, NEAR aims to provide developers and users with a smoother experience without requiring disruptive infrastructure changes.
Dynamic resharding enables the NEAR blockchain to scale automatically based on network demand, helping improve throughput, maintain performance, and support future ecosystem growth.
The combined deployment of automatic scaling and quantum-resistant security demonstrates the protocol’s focus on strengthening both performance and long-term reliability. While scalability has remained a key objective for many blockchain projects, preparing for future cryptographic threats has increasingly become a priority as advances in quantum computing continue.
MAINNET UPGRADE
Quantum-safe signing is now live on NEAR mainnet.
This makes NEAR one of the first blockchains with a NIST-approved post-quantum signature scheme in production.
The upgrade also launches dynamic resharding, so NEAR Protocol can scale itself automatically 🧵 pic.twitter.com/YvpvGwkYZU
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) July 20, 2026
Supporters of the project indicated that the engineering teams behind NEAR Protocol and its broader ecosystem have consistently introduced technical innovations. They suggested that these achievements had not received the level of market recognition they believed they deserved, despite representing meaningful advances in blockchain infrastructure.
The integration of post-quantum cryptography also reflects growing industry efforts to future-proof blockchain networks. Although practical quantum computers capable of breaking widely used cryptographic standards are not yet available, several blockchain developers have begun exploring defensive measures to ensure networks remain secure over the long term.
Strengthening the Blockchain for the Future
By combining quantum-safe transaction signing with automatic network scaling in a single mainnet upgrade, NEAR seeks to address two of the industry’s most significant technical challenges simultaneously. The enhancements are expected to benefit developers building decentralized applications by providing a more scalable infrastructure while also offering stronger security assurances for users and enterprises adopting blockchain technology.
With both quantum-resistant security and automatic scaling now active on the mainnet, NEAR has strengthened its foundation for supporting future decentralized applications, enterprise adoption, and growing transaction volumes.
The latest upgrade represents another step in NEAR Protocol‘s ongoing effort to advance blockchain infrastructure through engineering-focused improvements. As blockchain adoption expands and demands on network performance continue to increase, these enhancements could help position the platform to meet future scalability and security requirements while maintaining efficient operation under changing workloads.