What makes NEAR’s sharding model different from other blockchains?

[ed]

NEAR uses Nightshade sharding, a form of dynamic sharding, where each shard processes transactions and produces partial state outputs. These outputs are combined into a single block on the main chain, allowing parallel transaction processing without splitting consensus. Unlike some sharded chains that compromise decentralization for speed, NEAR maintains robust validator participation across shards while scaling throughput dynamically as network activity grows.

[Nahid Hossen]

NEAR scales dynamically instead of using fixed shard designs.

[Abdul Khan]

The design focuses on smooth scaling without complicating UX.