NEAR targets protocol security after $112 AI proof-generation run

NEAR Protocol has outlined plans to apply AI-assisted formal verification to its protocol and core smart contracts after reporting 672 solved mathematics problems at a submission-time model cost of $111.85. Summary NEAR plans to apply AI-assisted formal verification to its protocol and core smart contracts. NEAR AI reported solving 672 PutnamBench problems at a submission-time model cost of $111.85. Production verification requires accurate software models, defined requirements, and proofs covering the deployed implementation. Formal verification complements testing and code reviews, with guarantees limited to specified properties and assumptions. NEAR Protocol said in an Oct. 16 announcement that its research seeks to reduce the specialist work and computing costs involved in proving software follows defined rules. Formal verification proves that software follows defined rules. Our goal is to make it affordable for more developers. NEAR AI’s progress in automated proof generation brings us closer. Next: applying it to the NEAR protocol and core smart contracts. https://t.co/MqFxz4B166— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) October 19, 2026 The planned application covers the network’s prot...