If you’ve ever used a web wallet or dabbled with DeFi, you probably have some idea of what an RPC provider does. The term describes companies that provide the infrastructure required to connect to Web3 protocols, e.g. B. Blockchain nodes that provide data on the current state of the network.
Although the term is ubiquitous in DeFi, few people know what RPC means, let alone how its infrastructure works. RPC stands for Remote Procedure Call and describes a type of server that allows users to read onchain data and send transactions to different networks.
RPC providers are the backbone of web3 and do all the heavy lifting that result in a seamless user experience. Without them you would have to boot up your own node every time you want to connect to a web3 protocol. The complexity, time, and expense involved make it impractical for desktop users—and virtually impossible for mobile users.
Because of this, we rely on RPC providers to provide Web3 connectivity as needed. When you connect to a smart contract network, your data requests are likely to be served by one of the following Big Five.
alchemy
Alchemy is a Web3 development platform that helps projects scale their decentralized applications. It connects developers and their users to seven blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Starknet. Supernode is the name of its web3 API, which allows dApps to serve millions of requests and connect to on-chain and off-chain data sources.
Alchemy promises 99.9% uptime and unlimited requests for blockchain archive data, including forking the entire chain from Genesis. His clients include Zerion and Collab.Land. Alchemy is one of the largest RPC providers in the industry and offers three plans, including a free tier that can support up to five dApps.
arrival
Ankr is one of the most well-known RPC providers within the DeFi industry. It boasts of having more than 39,000 developers who rely on Ankr for their blockchain infrastructure and data needs. A whopping 27 networks are supported by Ankr, including more than 18 that are RPC-connected, giving developers access to a vast chunk of the decentralized finance ecosystem. Over 8 billion API requests are served by Ankr every day.
Ankr’s customers include DeFi projects and Web3 game developers who need fast and reliable RPC infrastructure to minimize latency and optimize user experience. Ankr’s service is also ideal for multi-chain projects for which it is not possible to self-host numerous full nodes. The RPC specialist offers a pay-as-you-go service that allows dApps to keep costs to a minimum while maintaining the ability to scale quickly. With its focus on high speed, low latency, and a highly decentralized and censorship-resistant infrastructure, it’s easy to see why Ankr has become DeFi’s RPC darling.
infura
The world’s best-known RPC provider is also the largest. Infura, owned by Ethereum titan Consensys, is the infrastructure provider for much of the ETH ecosystem, aided by its deep integration with MetaMask, the leading web wallet – also owned by Consensys.
Infura is not without critics for its higher level of centralization than most of its competitors and its tendency to impose US-led censorship. There are also questions about its data collection and retention policy (although the same fees may be charged against many other RPC providers, it should be noted).
Infura’s reach and range of developer-friendly products make it a natural choice for many DeFi products, especially those whose teams are located in the US.
block daemon
No top 5 RPC list would be complete without Blockdaemon. It provides infrastructure for more than 60 blockchain networks and is the node provider of choice for the CeFi and TradFi industries. The range of API options that Blockdaemon offers is staggering, including staking and NFT API services. Designed for serious gamers, Blockdaemon claims to “guarantee 24/7 uptime and coverage for the most demanding blockchain-related use cases.”
pokt network
After Ankr, Pokt is arguably the most well-known RPC provider for the DeFi space. Structured as a DAO, the company is almost as decentralized as the applications and protocols it supports. More than 35 networks are supported by Pokt, whose network of tens of thousands of user-controlled nodes provides high availability and access.
Getting started with Pokt is quick and easy, allowing developers to connect to their chosen RPC endpoints in minutes. Despite its decentralized design, Pokt isn’t as censorship-resistant as you might think, given its willingness to censor transactions that OFAC has blacklisted. That being said, it remains a popular and largely reliable RPC provider for decentralized finance.
As we enter 2023, we need a robust infrastructure to propel the industry forward and help its emerging applications and protocols reach their full potential. RPC deployment may not be glamorous, but it’s thanks to the proliferation of companies like this that crypto users can experience web3 in all its glory.
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