NEAR Accounts | NEAR Documentation (2024)

Users participate in the NEAR ecosystem through their NEAR accounts. These accounts are identified by a unique address, can optionally hold a smart contract, and are controlled through Access Keys.

By signing transactions with their account, users can:

1. Send and receive digital assets (such as tokens or collectibles)
2. Create and interact with on-chain applications known as smart contracts
3. Control accounts in other chains (such as Ethereum or Bitcoin) ✨
4. Help onboard new users by covering the costs of their transactions (gas fees)

Account Model Overview​

Let's take a closer look at the different elements that compose the NEAR account model.

Account ID​

NEAR implements two types of accounts IDs: named accounts such as alice.near, which are simple to remember and share, and the classic alphanumeric IDs (fb9243ce...) that other chains also implement.

Permissions Through Access Keys​

NEAR accounts can have multiple keys, each with their own set of permissions. This allows to easily swap keys if one gets compromised, and to use keys as authorization tokens for third-parties.

Simple to Develop Smart Contracts​

NEAR accounts can optionally hold a simple program, known as a smart contract. In NEAR, developers can create smart contracts using languages such as Javascript or Rust.

Comparison With Ethereum​

If you're familiar with development on Ethereum, it's worth making a quick note about how accounts are different. The table below summarizes some key differences: