NEAR Protocol Price Drops 1.36% Despite Network Upgrade Success – NEAR Technical Analysis

Quick Take

• NEAR currently trading at $2.68 (-1.36% in 24h)
• NEAR RSI at neutral 45.97 suggests potential reversal zone
• Recent network upgrade enhanced scalability but failed to sustain price momentum

What’s Driving NEAR Protocol Price Today?

Despite the successful completion of NEAR Protocol’s network upgrade and hard fork on September 23, 2025, the NEAR price has experienced a modest decline of 1.36% in the past 24 hours. This price action suggests that while the fundamental improvements were well-received initially, the market may be experiencing some profit-taking after the upgrade-driven rally.

The network upgrade significantly enhanced NEAR Protocol’s scalability by increasing chunk validators from 300 to 500 and mandates per shard from 65 to 105. This technical improvement represents a substantial leap forward for the network’s capacity to handle increased transaction volumes. Binance’s announcement of support for the upgrade on September 19 provided additional confidence to traders and likely contributed to pre-upgrade positioning.

Additionally, Meta Pool’s NEAR staking contract successfully passed a comprehensive security audit by Resonance Security on September 18, with no critical or high-risk issues identified. While this news strengthened the ecosystem’s security credentials, its immediate impact on NEAR price appears limited compared to the network upgrade catalyst.

NEAR Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Create Trading Uncertainty

The current NEAR Protocol technical analysis reveals a complex picture with conflicting indicators. NEAR’s RSI sits at 45.97, placing it firmly in neutral territory and suggesting the token isn’t oversold or overbought. This neutral reading indicates potential for movement in either direction, making it a critical level for traders to monitor.

NEAR Protocol’s moving averages tell a nuanced story. The token trades below its 7-day SMA ($2.83) and 20-day SMA ($2.85), indicating short-term bearish pressure. However, NEAR price remains above both the 50-day SMA ($2.67) and 200-day SMA ($2.55), suggesting the longer-term uptrend remains intact.

The MACD analysis for NEAR shows concerning momentum shifts. With the MACD line at 0.0478 below the signal line at 0.0857, and a negative histogram reading of -0.0379, bearish momentum appears to be building. This divergence suggests that despite recent positive fundamentals, selling pressure may be increasing.

NEAR Protocol’s Stochastic indicators paint an even more bearish picture, with %K at 13.86 and %D at 19.96, both deeply in oversold territory. This could either signal an impending bounce or continued downward pressure, depending on broader market conditions.

NEAR Protocol Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance

Based on Binance spot market data, NEAR Protocol support levels are well-defined and crucial for determining the next directional move. The immediate support sits at $2.58, which aligns closely with recent trading action. Should this level fail to hold, NEAR Protocol strong support at $2.28 represents the next major floor.

On the upside, NEAR resistance appears formidable at $3.34, which serves as both immediate and strong resistance. This level has proven significant in recent price action and will likely require substantial volume to break through convincingly.

The current NEAR/USDT trading range of $2.76 to $2.66 over the past 24 hours demonstrates relatively tight consolidation. NEAR Protocol’s pivot point at $2.70 sits just above the current price, suggesting the token is testing crucial decision levels.

NEAR Protocol’s Bollinger Bands provide additional context, with the upper band at $3.20 and lower band at $2.49. The current position suggests NEAR has room to move in either direction without hitting extreme overbought or oversold conditions relative to its recent volatility.

Should You Buy NEAR Now? Risk-Reward Analysis

For aggressive traders, the current NEAR price presents an interesting risk-reward setup. The successful network upgrade provides fundamental support, while the neutral RSI suggests potential for upward movement. However, the bearish MACD momentum requires caution and tight risk management.

Conservative investors might wait for clearer technical signals. A break below $2.58 immediate support could trigger further declines toward $2.28, representing approximately 15% downside risk. Conversely, a break above $2.83 (7-day SMA) could signal renewed bullish momentum toward the $3.34 resistance zone.

Day traders should focus on the $2.66-$2.76 range established in recent sessions. The relatively high 24-hour volume of $15.7 million on Binance spot suggests sufficient liquidity for active trading strategies.

Given NEAR Protocol’s strong support at $2.55 (200-day SMA) and the positive fundamental backdrop from the network upgrade, any significant dips below current levels might present attractive accumulation opportunities for longer-term positions. However, traders should monitor Bitcoin’s broader market direction, as altcoin performance often correlates with overall cryptocurrency market sentiment.

Conclusion

NEAR price faces a critical juncture as technical indicators provide mixed signals despite recent positive developments. The successful network upgrade offers fundamental strength, but short-term momentum appears bearish based on NEAR Protocol technical analysis. Traders should watch the $2.58 support level closely over the next 24-48 hours, as a break below could trigger further downside toward $2.28, while a hold could set up a potential bounce toward $2.83 resistance.

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