NEAR Protocol Expands Validator Network with BonyNode Addition

**NEAR Protocol** continues its rapid expansion with **63 new nodes** onboarded through the #NodeStudioProgram2 in less than a month. The latest milestone includes welcoming the **R1M team** to the NEAR ecosystem during another successful weekend of onboarding activities. **Key highlights:** - 63 nodes added in under 30 days - R1M team joins NEAR Protocol ecosystem - NodeStudio Program driving consistent growth - Strong weekend onboarding momentum The NodeStudio Program appears to be **accelerating network participation** and bringing new teams into the NEAR ecosystem at a steady pace.

Node Studio maintains its active development pace with continued building efforts. The team emphasizes their commitment to **non-stop construction** and progress. - Studio remains focused on consistent development work - Building activities continue without interruption - Team demonstrates ongoing dedication to project advancement This follows their established pattern of continuous development work throughout 2025, reinforcing their **"never stop building"** philosophy.

**NEAR Protocol's Node Studio Program 2 has officially closed its application window.** The program, which offered 60 validator slots and 2.52M NEAR tokens over a one-year period, concluded its recruitment phase on October 30, 2025. **Key program highlights:** - 50,000 NEAR initial delegation per validator - Support from Meta Pool & NEAR Foundation - Special focus on diversity with 20 spots reserved for women - Coverage across LATAM, Africa, and Asia regions **Top 5 Node Commitment Bounty rewards:** - 1st place: ~4,563 NEAR - 2nd place: ~2,535 NEAR - 3rd place: ~1,521 NEAR - 4th-5th place: ~1,014 and ~507 NEAR respectively Rewards split 40% stablecoins and 60% locked mpDAO tokens. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to follow NEAR's social channels for future program announcements.

**NEAR Governance Call 23** took place on October 30, 2025, focusing on two critical proposals: - **HSP-002: Validator Support Program** - Aims to maintain network decentralization following NEAR's planned inflation reduction from 5% to 2.5% - **HSP-003: veNEAR Holder Rewards Program** - Establishes a 3-month rewards program to incentivize governance participation **Participation Requirements:** To vote on these proposals, users need veNEAR tokens. A step-by-step guide is available showing how to obtain veNEAR using: - Different Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) - NEAR native tokens Both proposals are now live for voting at [gov.houseofstake.org](https://gov.houseofstake.org/proposals). **Background Context:** These initiatives are part of NEAR's broader tokenomics upgrade coinciding with the network's five-year mainnet anniversary. The proposals work alongside the "Halving Upgrade" to create a comprehensive economic strategy focused on sustainability and decentralization. *Get your veNEAR and participate in shaping NEAR's governance future.*