NEAR is a decentralized platform that enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps). It is designed to be developer-friendly, scalable, and secure. NEAR is built on top of a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which allows for fast and efficient transaction processing.

NEAR's architecture is designed to be modular, which makes it easy for developers to build and deploy their own custom modules. The platform also includes a set of built-in modules that provide functionality such as account management, storage, and smart contracts.

One of the key features of NEAR is its sharding mechanism, which allows the platform to scale to support a large number of transactions. Sharding is a technique that involves splitting the network into smaller sub-networks, or shards, each of which can process transactions independently. This allows NEAR to process transactions in parallel, which improves the overall performance of the platform.

NEAR also includes a built-in token, known as NEAR, which is used to pay for transaction fees and other platform services. The token is designed to be deflationary, which means that its supply will decrease over time as more transactions are processed on the platform.

NEAR is designed to be interoperable with other blockchain platforms, which means that developers can build applications that can interact with other blockchain networks. This makes it easy for developers to create cross-chain applications that can leverage the strengths of multiple blockchain platforms.

I-AM-HUMAN — a groundbreaking initiative from the Near Digital Community that validates, recognizes and values your identity as a human within the NEAR ecosystem. This is a revolutionary system designed to validate and appreciate your human identity. It surpasses conventional online verification approaches like CAPTCHAs or official government IDs. Instead, it offers a comprehensive proof-of-personhood on the NEAR blockchain. This verification opens up a wide range of opportunities within the NEAR ecosystem, allowing you to engage in elections, join discussions, receive airdrops, and enjoy various other benefits.

I-AM-HUMAN employs an all-encompassing authentication procedure to validate your distinct human identity. This procedure deconstructs the notion of "humanity" into different elements, each verified independently. Each certification is represented as a Soul Bound Token (SBT) that is minted on-chain. With each verification, you acquire a new SBT, granting you access to voting and other activities within the NEAR ecosystem.

Soulbound tokens (SBTs) are unique tokens on the blockchain that cannot be transferred and serve as representations of an individual's or entity's identity. These tokens encompass a wide range of information, such as medical records, work history, and other personal details that define a person or entity. The digital wallets holding or generating these records are referred to as "Souls." People can possess multiple wallets (or Souls) to represent different aspects of their lives. For instance, someone may have a "Credentials Soul" for their work history and a "Medical Soul" for their health records.

The concept of Souls and SBTs enables individuals to establish a verifiable Web3 reputation based on their past actions and experiences. Unlike traditional NFTs that signify assets and property, SBTs go beyond monetary value and mere bragging rights. Instead, they are exclusive and non-transferable tokens representing a person's or entity's reputation. Once an SBT is issued to someone's wallet, it holds no monetary worth and cannot be traded. Its primary purpose is to authenticate and consolidate a person's or entity's identity and history on the blockchain