The Rollup Why NEAR Believes Privacy Is the Next Unlock with Lane Rettig
Nov 24, 2025
Lane Rettig, a protocol developer and blockchain expert focusing on NEAR, discusses the platform's strategic shift from grants to a product-first model. He highlights how NEAR's Intents Integration has already generated over $10M in fees. The conversation also delves into governance, with insights on its unique House of Stake initiative. Rettig emphasizes the importance of privacy, linking it to the cypherpunk movement and its role in Web3 adoption, while explaining the potential of decentralized AI for verifiable content creator royalties.
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Buenos Aires Shaped His Crypto Journey
- Lane Rettig revisited Buenos Aires where his crypto journey intensified in 2018.
- He credits Argentine peers and Santi Siri for mentoring his early Bitcoin and Ethereum path.
Privacy Infrastructure Found Product-Market Fit
- Product-market fit for privacy tech can arrive organically and quickly in the right moment.
- Near's Intents integration unexpectedly generated significant fees, showing hidden demand.
Govern Fees With Community And Clear Use Plans
- Do set up a community-driven governance process before turning on protocol fee switches.
- Do decide in advance how incoming fees will be invested, prioritizing product and ecosystem sustainability.