Illia Polosukhin, co-founder and CEO of NEAR Protocol, has emerged as a key figure in the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. NEAR Protocol, a layer-1 blockchain, has successfully raised over $500 million from notable investors such as Tiger Global, Three Arrows Capital, and Dragonfly Capital.

Importance of Polosukhin's Work

Polosukhin's dual expertise in AI and blockchain positions him uniquely for future developments in both fields. His work is significant due to the following points:

  • Contribution to AI with the seminal research paper, “Attention Is All You Need,” co-authored while at Google.
  • Leadership at NEAR Protocol, enhancing blockchain scalability and usability.
  • Recent focus on integrating AI systems as active users of blockchain technology.

His journey began in Ukraine with studies at the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.” After three years at Google, where he worked on TensorFlow and search-related machine learning, he co-authored the influential paper in 2017. Leaving Google shortly after, he and Alexander Skidanov founded NEAR.ai, which later pivoted into blockchain infrastructure.

NEAR Protocol: A Significant Blockchain Player

Founded in 2017, NEAR Protocol launched its mainnet in 2020, featuring a sharded, proof-of-stake architecture designed for scalability. This platform has since evolved, with Polosukhin's leadership guiding a strategic shift to focus on AI agents as blockchain users starting in 2026.

On February 23, 2026, NEAR introduced near.com, a consumer wallet and super app, followed by the launch of Confidential Intents, a privacy layer aimed at enhancing cross-chain agent transactions.

Future Trends and Areas to Watch

Polosukhin emphasizes that upcoming advancements will likely stem from AI systems interacting directly with blockchains, strengthening the notion of AI as a fundamental internet interface. Following his insights, industry watchers should monitor:

  • Developments in AI-agent integration with blockchain technology.
  • Future projects launched by NEAR that may redefine user engagement on their platform.
  • Polosukhin's ongoing contributions to AI research and his engagement in relevant conferences.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.