# Near

NEAR Protocol is a highly scalable, developer-friendly Layer-1 blockchain designed to power decentralized applications (dApps) with a focus on usability, speed, and interoperability. Leveraging innovations such as Nightshade sharding, chain abstraction, and its Blockchain Operating System (BOS), NEAR achieves high throughput—over 100,000 transactions per second—and near-instant finality, while enabling seamless cross-chain interactions and AI integration for next-generation Web3 experiences. The protocol employs a Thresholded Proof of Stake (TPoS) consensus mechanism, making it both energy-efficient and secure. Founded in 2017, NEAR has attracted significant investment from leading venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Pantera Capital, Electric Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Dragonfly Capital, positioning it as a major player in the blockchain ecosystem.

You can find the link to the block explorer below:

{% embed url="<https://nearblocks.io/>" %}

* [Staking Guide](#staking-guide)
* [Validator Address](#validator-address)
* [Performance](#performance)
* [Staking Mechanics](#staking-mechanics)

### Staking Guide

{% embed url="<https://www.luganodes.com/blog/NEARSG/>" %}

### Validator Address

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Mainnet" %}

<table><thead><tr><th width="189">Type</th><th>Address</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Validator ID</td><td>@luganodes.pool.near</td></tr></tbody></table>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### Performance

Luganodes validator performance can be tracked [here](https://nearblocks.io/address/luganodes.pool.near).

### Staking Mechanics

<table><thead><tr><th width="209">Metrics</th><th>Details</th><th data-hidden>Details</th><th data-hidden></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Reward Frequency</td><td>Every Epoch ( ~12 hours )</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Auto-compounding</td><td>Yes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Penalty</td><td>No</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Slashing</td><td>No</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stake Lockup</td><td>Yes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unbonding Period</td><td>3-4 epochs ( 36-48 hours )</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>


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