You can purchase Near Protocol (NEAR) on [Cointree](https://www.cointree.com/). We're a cryptocurrency exchange regulated here in Australia with bank level encryption to keep your coins safe. Compared to other exchanges, our platform is incredibly easy to use, making it perfect for beginner traders.

Yes, you can use your AUD to purchase NEAR. Simply deposit funds from your bank account onto our exchange and you can purchase NEAR and [other cryptocurrencies](https://www.cointree.com/trade/cryptocurrencies/) in just a few clicks. And it's just as easy to withdraw AUD as well. Furthermore, we list all coin prices in the Australian dollar so you know how much crypto you're getting for every Australian dollar invested.

NEAR tokens must be stored in a NEAR wallet. Luckily, when you sign up with Cointree, you receive a free multi-coin wallet that lets you store your cryptocurrency with ease. Alternatively, you can store your tokens in an external hardware wallet.

Before investing in a protocol's native utility token, many traders recommend that you should always do your own research (DYOR). Analysis can be much more extensive than simply asking, what's the market cap and Near Protocol price today? Traders often look at the available data before trading, including protocol supply, market cap, circulating supply, in-depth price statistics, risk metrics, protocol price history, total supply, current price, and trading volume. Many investors will also conduct a thorough fundamental analysis before they start trading NEAR. Beyond looking at the markets, current NEAR price, they research how the network is growing and the activity on the protocol. For example, they may consider whether [NFT games](https://www.cointree.com/learn/nft-games/) can be built on the network and the cost of running validator nodes on the Near Protocol compared to other networks. As we can't provide specific financial advice, always consult a licensed professional if you'd like investment advice. For more information on tools that traders use to analyse a project, see our article on [how to evaluate a cryptocurrency](https://www.cointree.com/learn/financial-metrics-evaluate-cryptocurrency/).