Near Protocol Overview. shakilmahmood73@gmail.com Write about near protocol within 300 word Near Protocol is a decentralized blockchain platform that aims to provide a scalable and developer-friendly environment for creating decentralized applications (dApps). The project was founded in 2018 by Alexander Skidanov, Illia Polosukhin, and Evgeny Kuzyakov, and is backed by several notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Pantera Capital, and Electric Capital. One of the main goals of Near Protocol is to address the scalability issues that have plagued many existing blockchain platforms. To achieve this, Near Protocol utilizes a sharding approach where the network is divided into smaller subsets called "shards." Each shard can process transactions in parallel, which enables the network to handle a much larger throughput than other blockchain platforms. Another key feature of Near Protocol is its focus on making the development of dApps as easy and accessible as possible. The platform provides developers with a high-level programming language called Rust, which is known for its performance, security, and reliability. Rust allows developers to write smart contracts that can run on the Near Protocol network, and also enables the creation of custom tokens and other complex decentralized applications. Near Protocol also offers a unique approach to governance that aims to ensure the network remains decentralized and community-driven. The platform utilizes a two-tiered governance model, where network validators and token holders work together to make decisions about the future direction of the network. This system helps to prevent any single entity from gaining too much power over the network, which is a common issue in many other blockchain platforms. Overall, Near Protocol offers a promising solution to some of the most significant challenges facing the blockchain industry. Its focus on scalability, developer-friendliness, and decentralized governance make it a compelling option for anyone interested in creating decentralized applications or participating in the growing blockchain ecosystem.