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NEAR AI says confidential inference is expanding across its cloud stack

Secure enclave hub with Intel Trust Authority badge, NEAR AI elements, and neural networks forming a shield over a crypto skyline.

NEAR AI said its cloud offering now supports an integration with Intel Trust Authority that it describes as advancing confidential inference and independent attestation. In a separate public post, the NEAR Protocol account said more than 500,000 NEAR has been staked toward confidential inference on NEAR AI Cloud, with more than 40 models supported, including those from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.

The official blog post frames the integration as a step toward confidential AI execution, where inference can be performed in a protected environment. The announcement does not explicitly use the term “formal verification,” even though that phrase has appeared in some references to the story.

What NEAR is signaling around its AI cloud

The clearest confirmed detail is that NEAR AI is linking its cloud product with Intel Trust Authority and presenting the setup as a way to support confidential inference with attestation and verification features. That makes the update more specific than a broad AI branding push: it points to a technical change in how the cloud service is being positioned and operated.

The staking figure shared by NEAR Protocol suggests active participation around that cloud product, but the post itself does not spell out the mechanics behind the staking, the incentives involved or whether the figure reflects user demand, ecosystem support or another form of commitment. The company’s message does confirm the scale it wants readers to notice: 500,000+ NEAR and 40+ supported models.

For readers tracking AI-focused crypto projects, the relevant distinction is between a product that is being described as confidential and one that is broadly live and verified at the application layer. NEAR’s announcement supports the first point clearly. The broader operational and adoption picture remains limited to what the company has publicly said.