At Crypto Spectators, we’re always tracking the charts, on-chain metrics, and market sentiment to spot early opportunities—and this week, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) has officially entered our radar.

After weeks of sideways action, NEAR is flashing signals that it may be gearing up for a 15% breakout, thanks to a powerful combination of technical patterns and liquidation data that can’t be ignored.

Chart Talk: Inverse Head-and-Shoulders in Play

Currently trading around $2.12, NEAR has popped 4.26% in the past 24 hours, even as trading volume dipped by 15.66%. Price up, volume down? That can be a mixed signal, but the chart is telling us something bigger: a textbook inverse head-and-shoulders is forming.

This classic bullish reversal pattern has a neckline just above $2.14—a key level to watch. If NEAR breaks above that with strong volume, chartists are eyeing a price target around $2.43, marking a solid 14.8% upside from current levels.

Short Squeeze Alert: Liquidations Favor the Bulls

The technical setup is backed by recent liquidation data that hints at rising bullish pressure. Over the last few sessions, NEAR saw $31.42K in short liquidations, compared to just $10.46K in long liquidations. Most of these occurred on Binance, a sign that bearish traders got caught in the wrong direction.

Short liquidations often trigger a mini-squeeze, forcing traders to buy back the asset—adding more fuel to an already bullish fire.

Retail Buzz Growing, Social Volume on the Rise

NEAR isn’t just attracting traders—it’s gaining traction across social platforms too. According to Santiment, both social volume and social dominance for NEAR are climbing. It’s not a full-on frenzy just yet, but it’s enough to suggest that retail FOMO could kick in quickly if the breakout confirms.

Developers Slowing Down—but Still Active

Not every signal is at full strength. NEAR’s developer activity—a long-term metric of project health—has dipped slightly from 27.68 to 19.48. That said, NEAR remains one of the most actively maintained protocols in the space. These cooldowns are common after heavy updates or roadmap rollouts.

Final Word from Crypto Spectators

NEAR is standing at a crucial inflection point. Break the $2.14 neckline with volume, and this token could quickly surge to the $2.40–$2.45 range. But if it stalls, expect a pullback to support near $2.06 or even $1.95.

For now, the play is simple: watch the breakout zone, track volume, and keep an eye on liquidation trends. NEAR might just deliver one of the most exciting short-term moves in the market right now.

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