Illia Polosukhin’s Net Worth (2025) | Co-founder of NEAR Protocol

Key Takeaways

Illia Polosukhin has contributed to the growth of AI in areas such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP).

His contributions have also helped NEAR Protocol secure funding of $550 million as its native token hits a market cap of $3.7B.

His net worth for 2025 is unknown; however, he actively shares his insight on decentralized privacy and the future of AI.

Illia Polosukhin is an open-source Ukrainian AI researcher and software engineer whose contributions to machine learning and blockchain technology have earned him accolades across the industry. His notable work is tied to NEAR Protocol, a decentralized, open-source technology designed for the usability and scalability of decentralized applications.

Who is Illia Polosukhin? Artificial Intelligence Researcher and Engineer

Illia Polosukhin is a Ukrainian Artificial Intelligence researcher and software engineer who has contributed to machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) after earning a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.

Following a successful stint at school, he started working as a software engineer at Salford Systems in San Diego, where he was in charge of predictive analytics, text and geo-mining, and refining tools for big data insights.

During this period, Illia honed his skills in machine learning and real-world problem-solving by participating in programming hackathons, such as the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), where he emerged as an expert in algorithmic thinking.

Polosukhin eventually joined Google AI as an AI engineer, advancing to engineering manager, leading a team of deep learning and NLP projects. He has contributed to several projects, including TensorFlow, and co-authored discussions and articles that feature AI models and their future potential.

However, in 2017, he sought a new adventure away from Google. He then co-founded Near.ai with Alexander Skidanov, with plans focused on AI, but transitioned fully into blockchain applications and scalability, leading its team to raise over $550 million in funding.

NEAR currently focuses on AI blockchain technologies and privacy-preserving models in the blockchain space. His career is a blend of technical expertise and visionary leadership in the AI industry.

Contributions to the Blockchain Industry

Source – Illia Polosukhin X Post (Formerly Twitter)

Polosukhin remains active in the AI and privacy industry, seeking to onboard more decentralized technologies, with plans to onboard around 1 billion users based on his X profile.

He continually shares his insight regarding the future and adoption of AI on his X account, featuring in podcasts and conferences around the world. He also supports startups and AI companies to create open-source technologies.

Illia Polosukhin’s Net Worth in 2025

The net worth of Polosukhin is unknown, as there are no public records indicating exact figures. However, his involvement with NEAR Protocol has seen the blockchain company raise over $550 million, and its native token, NEAR, has a market capitalization of $3.7 billion.

Conclusion

Illia Polosukhin’s journey demonstrates discipline, vision, and determination in bridging the blockchain decentralization with the computational world of AI, as he aims to contribute to both industries while helping startups become successful.