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In the global segment of Web3 applications, every team needs to have its development processes optimized and streamlined in order to be competitive and attract liquidity.
Using System-as-a-service (SaaS) RPC nodes is one of the most impressive shortcuts for building blockchain-based products. In this manual, we’re going to cover the basics of the private RPC node concept, its tech advantages and potential use-cases.
Understanding private RPC nodes: Highlights
Blockchain RPC nodes are designed to connect dApps to blockchains, and, therefore, to read and write information while interacting with Ethereum, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, Polygon, and so on.
- Blockchain nodes are essential elements of blockchain infrastructure since blockchains rely on them to verify transactions and add new blocks;
- Technically, blockchain nodes are powerful computers with specific upgradeable software (clients) that are connected (synchronized) to each other;
- Generally, there are three types of nodes: light nodes, full nodes, and archive nodes;
- Blockchain RPC (short for “remote procedure call”) nodes are used by cryptocurrency applications to read and write information from the blockchains;
- Public RPC nodes can be used by everyone free of charge; however, they are too slow for commercial applications;
- By contrast, private RPC nodes require registration and, in some cases, are available in paid packages; they can be customized and used for high-speed connection;
- Developers who choose blockchain RPC nodes don’t need to run blockchain nodes on their own; this allows the team to save time and resources.
Reliable private RPC nodes of main blockchains are managed by RPC node providers, System-as-a-Service (or Blockchain-as-a-Service) platforms that serve to connect dApps to blockchains via purpose-made API endpoints.
What are blockchain nodes?
Blockchains or distributed ledgers are decentralized data mechanisms (databases) designed to store and transfer data in tamper-proof and transparent way.
Participants of the blockchains compete with each other to add new blocks to the “chain” in order to get mining or staking rewards. Every computer in the blockchain stores the history of its transactions in order to prevent them from being altered or deleted.
hese elements are also called “nodes”. Nodes are computers with specific software connected to each other. Nodes reach consensus about the validity of transactions, blocks, and account balances. That said, if Alice sends 1 token to Bob, all nodes in the network should agree on the fact that, starting from a certain block, Alice's balance is reduced by 1 coin, while Bob adds 1 coin to his wallet.
What are the main types of blockchain nodes?
In modern blockchains, nodes are geo-distributed and operated by independent entities to make the blockchains resistant to attacks and centralization. Meanwhile, to make the process of transaction verification more optimized, various types of nodes are set to achieve various goals.
- Light nodes. Store a limited amount of information, typically only serving to read data from the blockchain.
- Full nodes. Read and write information in blockchains, store all information about the last phase of blocks (transactions, addresses balances, and so on).
- Archive nodes. Store the information about all transfers in blockchain since its launch.
While full and light nodes are used by the majority of dApps, archive nodes typically power analytical services.
What are RPC nodes and why do we need them?
RPC or “remote procedure call” is a standardized request-response communication protocol designed to allow computers to initiate desired action in remote systems.
In blockchains, it refers to a procedure when cryptocurrency-based software (decentralized or centralized exchange, crypto wallet, NFT marketplace, DeFi, and so on) somehow alters blockchain data.
For instance, when DeFi protocol sends liquidity provider (LP) reward to stakers of some asset, the protocol’s contract sends a call to the RPC node of the blockchain, initiates the transfer of tokens, and, therefore, changes the data in corresponding blocks.
hus, RPC nodes are proxies between cryptocurrency applications and blockchain networks. The applications need them to operate in a decentralized and resource-efficient manner.
Private RPC nodes: Concept and benefits (500)
Private RPC nodes proved to be a go-to solution for the development of commercial dApps. Here’s how working with them makes cryptocurrency apps development frictionless for all types of services.
Private RPC nodes: Basics
As we mentioned above, RPC nodes are basically endpoints to the blockchains: someone runs a blockchain node so you don’t have to. As such, you can just get the address of the RPC endpoint (looks like a standard URL), integrate it into your app backend code and start sending requests to blockchains.
Some established blockchains run public RPC endpoints for free in order to attract developers and researchers.
hese public endpoints are free for all users. As such, their maintainers offer them “as is” with no customization options and at low speed. You will be sharing computational resources with dozens of other developers while using public RPC endpoints.
By contrast, private RPC endpoints are tailored for your needs. They are maintained by blockchain RPC node providers who charge fees for their services. To start using private RPC nodes, you need to be a client of a blockchain node provider.
Veteran RPC provider GetBlock offers hassle-free way to connect your dApp to 50+ blockchains including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, Optimism, Arbitrum, and so on. It works with JSON and WebSockets interfaces. GetBlock offers free (40,000 requests per 24 hours) and paid packages (starting from $29 per 5 million requests) while unlimited packages are available for $499 per month. It was the first blockchain node provider to add MetaMask authorization: no ID or credit card details are required to start using it.
Alchemy, Infura and QuickNode are reliable GetBlock alternatives in this segment.
Private RPC nodes: Pros and Cons
Building dApps with private RPC endpoints has a number of advantages. First and foremost, it saves time and effort for the Web3 project team. With private RPC endpoints, you don’t need to lease servers, install and synchronize clients, control the operations with DevOps team, and so on. Also, it can be safer as blockchain node providers adhere to strictest standards of security and availability that are included in their SLAs.
At the same time, working with a blockchain node provider adds one extra level of centralization: a centralized entity is in charge of your connection to blockchain which goes in contrast with 100% decentralization ethos of Web3 products.
|
Private RPC node |
Public RPC node |
Own node |
|
|
Centralization |
High |
High |
Low |
|
Speed |
Very high |
Very low |
Depends on the capacity of server you lease |
|
Security |
High |
Very low |
Low |
|
Resource-efficiency |
High |
High |
Low |
|
Costs |
Depends on chosen package |
Low-to-no |
Low |
As such, using private RPC endpoints remains the only way for commercial dApps to get connected to the blockchains. However, for research and testing purposes, there are cheaper options.
Private RPC nodes: Setting up
In order to connect your dApp to a private RPC endpoint, you need to sign up to the provider service, choose the options you need, top up your account, and start sending requests.
- Sign up to the account. Some providers require e-mail addresses while others allow authorizing the account via MetaMask wallet which is a more secure option.
- Choose the blockchains you would like to connect to. For instance, let’s get an API address of the Bitcoin mainnet node. After choosing “Bitcoin” as the name of the network and “Mainnet” as the type of network, just click “Get” and check out the address of your endpoint below.
Also, you can customize the type of the interface you would like to use: JSON-RPC, REST, and BLOCKBOOK.
- Top up your account. Should you need paid packages, you will have to pay for this option. Modern blockchain RPC nodes providers accept payments from credit cards and cryptocurrency accounts.
- Integrate API endpoint’s address into the codebase of the app and start sending requests.
That’s it: with new-gen RPC node providers, setting up an API endpoint only takes a couple of minutes.
Bonus: How to choose RPC node provider
Here’s a couple of things to look at while choosing a blockchain RPC node provider in order to make your experience optimized and smooth.
- One provider for all blockchains. Check out whether your provider supports as many blockchains as your project needs.
- Free and paid options in one platform. You should always have an opportunity to test a new network/interface for free.
- Requests with no expiration date. You should always be able to use the requests you paid for.
- Custom-made service level agreement (SLAs). Ideal blockchain RPC node provider shouldn’t work in a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Also, it might be a smart bet to read reviews on the Internet before choosing this or that blockchain RPC provider as your main or backup infrastructure.
Wrapping up
Private RPC nodes represent the class of SaaS blockchain nodes used by cryptocurrency applications to read and write data in the blockchains. Users connect to such nodes via RPC node providers services.
Working with private RPC nodes guarantees high speed and security of connection saving time and effort for the developers.
RPC nodes FAQ
Here are the most common questions newcomers ask about basics of private RPC node utilization in Web3 software engineering.
What are RPC nodes?
RPC nodes are elements of blockchains required by cryptocurrency applications to interact with blockchains through RPC protocol.
Are RPC nodes legit?
Yes, RPC nodes are battle-tested mechanisms of blockchain development
Are RPC nodes blockchains?
No, RPC nodes are elements of blockchain infrastructure and shouldn’t be treated as separate blockchains.
What are Bitcoin RPC nodes?
Bitcoin RPC nodes are in-blockchain entities that streamline the interaction between the Bitcoin network and decentralized wallets, trading bots, analytical services, and so on.
How to use Ethereum RPC nodes?
Ethereum RPC nodes are designed to connect decentralized applications (dApps) to Ethereum protocol. They’re hosting DeFis, NFT marketplace, on-chain wallets, etc.
Author Bio
Deen Newman, Project Manager at GetBlock. He is a renowned crypto tech writer with a vast knowledge of blockchain technology and its potential applications he has been writing for crypto media for more than 5 years. His in-depth analysis and expert commentary have made him a respected voice in the crypto community, with a reputation for delivering high-quality content that is both informative and engaging. Deen's passion for technology and his dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the field make him a valuable asset to anyone seeking to understand the complex world of cryptocurrency. Project Manager at GetBlock
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