On May 23, 2025, builders, founders, and Web3 enthusiasts gathered in Ho Chi Minh City for NEAR Vietnam Reconnect – a vibrant community-powered event spotlighting the latest innovations and renewed momentum within the NEAR ecosystem. Held at Hello World Saigon, this wasn’t just another meetup – it was a full-circle moment for NEAR in Vietnam.
As the name suggests, NEAR Vietnam Reconnect was more than an update; it was a return to community roots, an opportunity to celebrate local builders, and a space to reimagine the future of NEAR through fresh perspectives and local leadership.
Atmosphere: A reawakening of the NEAR Vietnam community
The energy at NEAR Vietnam Reconnect was unmistakable. From the moment attendees stepped through the door, the event buzzed with anticipation. A colorful photo booth, custom merch giveaways, and early networking opportunities set the stage for what would become a memorable day.
For many, it was more than a tech gathering – it was a long-overdue reunion. After a two-year gap without a major NEAR-focused event in Vietnam, this was a true “reconnection.” Newcomers mingled with seasoned builders, and the community rekindled its shared excitement for NEAR’s potential.
Opening Remark
The NEAR Vietnam Reconnect event officially kicked off with an inspiring opening speech by Mr. Harshit – a representative of the NEAR Foundation, who is playing a key role in the global expansion and development of the NEAR ecosystem.
In his speech, he warmly greeted the Vietnamese builder community and praised their creativity and enthusiasm, which have greatly contributed to the ecosystem.
He also provided a quick update on the latest news from NEAR, including strategic directions, standout new products, and ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding NEAR on a global scale.
Panel Discussion: What’s New on NEAR?
The panel brought together representatives from GFI, Rhea Finance, Meta Pool, and Followin – with moderation by the COO of OriginStake, Ms.Susan – to dive deep into NEAR’s current direction and how builders in Vietnam can engage with it.
🎤 Mrs. Anne – Rhea Finance
Anne kicked off by sharing NEAR’s most recent technical milestones: a 600ms block time and NEAR Instant at just 1.2 seconds. These advancements affirm NEAR’s commitment to speed and usability. Anne emphasized that NEAR continues to lead in AI integration and user experience design, especially through its mission of trans-up-saction – breaking down barriers that make Web3 hard to access.
She also pointed out NEAR’s strategic collaborations with Atlas Protocol and XLink, signaling a push for deeper access to native BTC users and expanding interoperability. Rhea and other projects building on NEAR share this long-standing vision of making Web3 truly user-centric.
🎤 Mrs. Riley Tran – GFI
Riley acknowledged that NEAR’s presence in Vietnam had slowed down in 2023 due to leadership changes and a strategic pivot towards AI. However, she highlighted that product development never stopped. NEAR’s narrative is now stronger than ever, with updates that reflect a clear focus on utility and long-term growth.
She noted that NEAR’s goals have remained consistent since 2018: making Web3 easier to use. Wallets now support human-readable names, and private keys can be updated for added security. Riley also advised newcomers to learn about NEAR’s tech stack and narrative. For AI builders especially, NEAR offers a promising foundation.
🎤 Mr. Mazino – Followin
Mazino brought a candid perspective as a relatively new observer of the NEAR ecosystem. From his point of view as a trader, the next major trend within NEAR is clearly AI. He cited the “User-Owned AI Agent” initiative as a key example of how NEAR is bridging blockchain and artificial intelligence.
Besides that, Riley added historical context: the founders of NEAR initially started with near.ai before realizing that blockchain could enhance AI. That realization led to the launch of near.org – a platform now doubling down on AI-powered innovation.
🎤 Mr. Gem – Meta Pool
Mr. Gem spoke passionately about Meta Pool’s alignment with NEAR’s grassroots vision. He emphasized that Meta Pool wants to “materialize NEAR’s direction through community-led and educational efforts.”
Their contributions include blockchain scholarships and regular coffee talks to bring users closer to the ecosystem. On the product side, they launched Node Studio, allowing individuals to run VPS nodes and earn up to 7% APR on staked NEAR. It’s a simple, practical way to empower more users to participate in decentralization.
🎤 Ms. Susan – OriginStake
Representing the host team, Susan reminded everyone that NEAR sees Vietnam as a high-potential market, and local users must take the initiative to demand more attention. She encouraged the community to be vocal, proactive, and involved – only then will more opportunities come their way.
Networking & Community building
One of the highlights of the event was the genuine, open conversations happening throughout. Whether you were a founder, a student, or just NEAR-curious, you could find someone to exchange ideas with.
The giveaways – featuring exclusive merch from Followin, Rhea, OriginStake, and Caliber – brought excitement and a sense of celebration. Many stayed late, taking photos, chatting about NEAR’s potential, or discussing ways to collaborate post-event.
The event proved that content can bring people in, but community is what makes them stay. The Web3 scene in Vietnam is alive and well, and NEAR Vietnam Reconnect was a timely reminder of that.
What’s next?
The panelists agreed on one thing: NEAR is not standing still. With its focus on AI, seamless UX, and performance upgrades, NEAR is laying the groundwork for the next generation of Web3 applications. For Vietnamese builders and users, now is the perfect time to get involved, learn, and start building.
Whether you’re a developer, an investor, or just curious about the future of blockchain and AI, NEAR has something for you.
And this event? It’s just the beginning.
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