NEAR protocol has been struggling to keep pace with the broader market rally. While major Layer-1 networks and competing smart contract platforms have captured significant investor attention and posted stronger gains, NEAR's price action remains sluggish relative to its peers. The token's recent performance suggests it's facing headwinds in terms of adoption velocity and developer ecosystem momentum compared to other emerging blockchains. Market participants are watching closely to see if NEAR can reverse this trend through network upgrades or expanded DeFi activity on its platform. The gap in performance metrics between NEAR and higher-flying alternatives reflects ongoing challenges in converting technological improvements into tangible market momentum.