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About Proximity Labs
Proximity Labs is an R&D lab focused on the NEAR protocol, covering research, product development, and strategic consulting. Its core innovation is the "Chain Signatures" technology, which allows NEAR accounts to sign transactions for other blockchains (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum), enabling bridge-less cross-chain operations and letting users manage multi-chain assets from a single account. This addresses the pain points of traditional cross-chain bridges that rely on centralized custody and are vulnerable to attacks. The lab also supports DeFi application development and focuses on stablecoins, payments, and AI.
Regarding its development in the past six months (March to September 2026), there is no reliable public information available to provide specific updates. It is recommended to follow its official website or social media for the latest news.
In July 2026, Proximity Labs co-founder Kendall Cole shared on Bankless that the stablecoin market will fragment, with many assets emerging but few becoming recognizable brands; most will appear generically as "stablecoin" or "USD," prioritizing function over form. Meanwhile, Proximity Labs is advancing Near Intents, a platform designed to simplify cross-chain asset transfers, with plans to integrate confidential transactions to enhance user privacy.
Looking ahead, Proximity Labs, as NEAR's R&D lab, focuses on stablecoins, payments, and AI, leveraging chain abstraction to enable seamless interoperability across any chain and asset. Its roadmap emphasizes making cross-chain transfers as effortless as everyday payments and establishing confidential transactions as a new standard for managing assets across networks.
Co-founders:
- Evgeny Kuzyakov: Co-founder of Proximity Labs, focused on NEAR ecosystem research.
- Bowen Shen: Co-founder, currently Chief Chess Player, responsible for NEAR DeFi ecosystem growth and strategy; formerly Growth Lead at NEAR Protocol and led business strategy/partnerships at OMG Network.
Key executive: Marc Goldich: General Counsel, seasoned blockchain legal expert; former Chief Litigation and Regulatory Counsel at Terraform Labs; over a decade of litigation experience focused on crypto and DeFi regulation.