**NEAR Token Surges Amid Blockchain Sharding Implementation**

NEAR, the native token of Near Protocol, has been on a roll, climbing 2.3% in the last 24 hours to trade at $5.21. After hitting a low of $3.41 on Sept. 6, NEAR has surged 57%, reaching an eight-week high of $5.36 on Sept. 24.

Key drivers behind this uptrend include the implementation of blockchain sharding, increased futures market interest, rising total value locked (TVL), and a robust market structure. Sharding, introduced with the NEAR 2.0 update, enhances scalability and security without compromising decentralization.

Additionally, NEAR has benefited from Nvidia's partnership with Alibaba Cloud and positive remarks on AI and digital assets from Kamala Harris. On-chain data shows a 42% increase in daily transactions and a 30.8% rise in new addresses from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, boosting user engagement and TVL by 34%.

NEAR's open interest also surged, indicating new market entries. The token broke above key moving averages, with a relative strength index of 70, suggesting bullish control. However, a dip below the 50-day EMA at $4.40 could invalidate this bullish outlook.