NEAR Protocol Overtakes Avalanche in 24-Hour DEX Volume

NEAR Protocol has surpassed Avalanche in 24-hour decentralized exchange volume, according to data from DefiLlama. As of October 1, 2026, NEAR logged $197.55 million in 24-hour volume, beating Avalanche's $193.92 million over the same period.

The momentum behind NEAR's activity can be attributed to NEAR Intents, the network's intent-based trading architecture. This system allows users to state the outcome they want from a trade, and the system works out how to deliver it. NEAR Intents has processed over $31 billion in cumulative DEX volume, with daily volume topping $300 million in mid-to-late September 2026.

The growth in NEAR's native-chain TVL has been tied to rising interest in liquidity projects like Rhea Finance and liquid staking protocols across the ecosystem. Additionally, advances in privacy features within NEAR's intent mechanisms have drawn activity connected to Zcash. The NEAR token saw roughly 78% weekly gains in mid-to-late September 2026.

Avalanche's daily volume of $193.92 million is still substantial, and its loss of the top spot for a single day does not necessarily indicate any health issues.