Background and education
A formal educational history was not verified in the primary sources used for this profile. No institution or degree is inferred.
How the journey developed
NEAR’s own history connects Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov’s early work with artificial intelligence before the project developed into blockchain infrastructure. Its founding history dates the project’s start to 2018.
Contribution to crypto
Polosukhin co-founded NEAR and has continued writing about the relationship between open networks and user-owned AI. His role connects two areas that share questions about access, coordination and control.
Why the work matters
An AI initiative and a blockchain protocol are different systems even when they share founders. Claims about model capabilities require evidence about the model; claims about network security require protocol evidence. Reading Polosukhin’s original explanations alongside project documentation helps maintain that distinction as the ecosystem develops.
Sources and further reading
Profile reviewed September 8, 2026. Historical roles are identified as such. Education is included only where supported by the sources; an unverified qualification is not assumed.