What is an RPC Node [Full Guide for Blockchain Developers]

Every decentralized application (dApp) needs a way to “talk” to the blockchain. When a user checks their wallet balance, mints an NFT, or sends tokens to a friend, the app has to send that request to the blockchain network and wait for a response. The piece of infrastructure that makes this interaction possible is usually an RPC node.

For developers, RPC nodes are the gateway between the code they write and the decentralized networks their applications rely on. For users, RPC nodes are invisible, quietly handling the heavy lifting behind every transaction or query.

In this article, we’ll break down what RPC nodes are, how they work, why they’re important, and the different ways developers can use them. By the end, you’ll see why RPC nodes are often called the backbone of Web3 infrastructure.

#What does RPC stand for

RPC stands for Remote Procedure Call, a method in computer science that allows one program to request a service or data from another program, even if it’s running on a different machine.

In the blockchain world, RPC nodes act like translators and messengers. They accept requests from wallets or dApps, relay them to the blockchain, and then return the results. Without them, interacting with Ethereum, Solana, or any other chain would be nearly impossible for most developers and end-users.

#What is RPC

At its core, a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a way for one computer program to ask another program, often on a different machine, to perform a task as if it were local. The idea is simple: instead of handling all the messy networking details, the developer just calls a function, and the RPC mechanism takes care of sending that request across the network and bringing back the result.

Think of it like ordering food in a restaurant. You don’t go into the kitchen and cook it yourself. Instead, you tell the waiter what you want. The waiter carries your request to the kitchen, the chefs prepare the food, and then the waiter brings it back to your table. In this analogy:

• You (the customer) = the application making the request.

• The waiter = the RPC mechanism.

• The kitchen = the system or service that actually processes the request.

This pattern is widely used in distributed systems because it makes remote communication feel local. A developer doesn’t need to manually code socket connections or data transmission. They just “call a function,” and RPC abstracts away the complexity.

#What is RPC API

It’s also worth clarifying how RPC relates to APIs. An API (Application Programming Interface) is a general term for the set of rules and methods that let two programs interact.

APIs can take many forms i.e. REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC, and more. RPC is one style of API, where the interaction is framed as calling a procedure or function remotely.

A quick way to think about it:

• API = the menu at a restaurant (the list of what’s possible).

• RPC = a particular style of ordering from that menu (directly asking for “run this function” and getting a result).

So while all RPCs are APIs, not all APIs are RPCs. This distinction becomes important in blockchain, where JSON-RPC has become the standard interface for interacting with nodes.

#What is RPC in blockchain

Now that we understand the general idea of RPC, it’s easier to see why it’s so important in blockchain systems.

A blockchain is essentially a distributed network of nodes that all maintain and update a shared ledger. To interact with that ledger, whether it’s checking an account balance, reading smart contract data, or broadcasting a transaction, an application needs a way to talk to these nodes.

This is where RPC comes in. Blockchains have standardized on JSON-RPC as the communication protocol between applications (like wallets or dApps) and nodes. JSON-RPC is lightweight, language-agnostic, and easy to implement, which makes it perfect for blockchain environments where requests need to be fast and consistent.

Instead of building new interfaces from scratch, blockchains expose their functionality through RPC methods. For example:

• On Ethereum, you might call eth_getBalance to fetch the balance of a wallet.

• On Solana, you could call getBlockHeight to know the chain’s current block number.

• On Bitcoin, an RPC method like getblockchaininfo returns network statistics.

In all these cases, the developer doesn’t need to worry about the complexities of peer-to-peer gossip networks or consensus mechanisms. They just send a simple RPC request and get back a structured response.

In short: RPC is the glue between applications and blockchains. Without it, building user-facing tools like wallets, NFT platforms, or DeFi dashboards would be nearly impossible.

#What is an RPC node

An RPC node is a blockchain node that exposes its functionality through RPC endpoints. In simpler terms, it’s a server that listens for requests (like “what’s this wallet’s balance?” or “send this transaction”) and return the appropriate data or action.

When developers or applications need to interact with a blockchain, they usually don’t connect directly to random peers in the network. Instead, they rely on RPC nodes because these nodes provide a clean and predictable way to communicate. Think of an RPC node as the API gateway into a blockchain.

Here’s what makes an RPC node unique:

• Standardized communication: It speaks JSON-RPC (or a similar protocol) so that developers don’t have to deal with raw blockchain internals.

• Read and write access: It can answer queries (like reading balances or transaction history) and relay write actions (like submitting new transactions to the chain).

• Gateway role: Instead of joining the complex peer-to-peer gossip network yourself, the RPC node does it for you.

Now, you might wonder: If I install something like Geth or Nethermind, what do I get? The answer is: by default you’re running a blockchain node. But these clients can also expose an RPC interface if you turn that feature on. In that case, your node becomes an RPC node, because it’s not just syncing the blockchain, it’s also listening for and answering requests from applications.

So in short:

• Node only → syncs and validates the blockchain.

• Node + RPC enabled → becomes an RPC node that apps and wallets can use as a gateway.

Without RPC nodes, developers would have to handle raw peer-to-peer communication themselves which is slow, costly, and impractical for most projects.

#How RPC Nodes work (Process)

At a high level, an RPC node works as a middle layer between an application and the blockchain network. Whenever your wallet or dApp needs something from the chain, whether it’s reading data or submitting a transaction, the RPC node handles the request on your behalf.

Here’s the process broken down:

1. Application Sends a Request

   • The app (wallet, dApp, or service) sends a request to the RPC node.

   • Example: “Get the balance of this address.”

2. RPC Node Interprets the Request

   • The node checks what kind of request it is.

   • If it’s a read request, it looks into its local blockchain state.

   • If it’s a write request, it broadcasts the transaction to the blockchain network.

3. Blockchain Processes the Request

   • For reads: the node already has the data because it stays synced with the blockchain.

   • For writes: the transaction is validated, propagated, and eventually included in a block.

4. Response Sent Back to the App

   • The RPC node formats the result into a JSON-RPC response and sends it back.

   • Example: returning the wallet’s balance in hexadecimal format.

This cycle happens constantly. Each time you check your tokens in MetaMask, mint an NFT, or interact with DeFi protocols, RPC nodes are doing this background work at lightning speed.

Here’s a simplified example:

Request (from dApp):

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "eth_getBalance",
  "params": ["0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc454e4438f44e", "latest"],
  "id": 1
}

Response (from RPC Node):

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "result": "0x0234c8a3397aab58"
}

This is why RPC nodes are sometimes described as the “API layer” of blockchains. They translate human-intended actions into network-understandable calls and return the results in a developer-friendly format.

#What is an RPC endpoint

When developers talk about connecting their app to a blockchain, what they actually connect to is an RPC endpoint. An RPC endpoint is simply the network address (usually a URL) where an application sends its RPC requests.

Think of it like this:

• The RPC node is the server.

• The RPC endpoint is the doorway (or URL) you use to reach that server.

For example, an Ethereum RPC endpoint might look like:

https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<your-api-key>

or

http://127.0.0.1:8545

if you’re running your own local node.

Once your app is connected to that RPC endpoint, it can perform any supported blockchain operation: checking balances, submitting transactions, or interacting with smart contracts.

It’s also common to hear “RPC node” and “RPC endpoint” used interchangeably. Technically, the node is the machine doing the work, while the endpoint is the specific access point (the network interface) that apps hit. But in practice, when developers say “connect to an RPC node,” they usually mean “use this RPC endpoint.”

This distinction becomes important later when we talk about public, private, and backup endpoints, since different endpoint setups can affect performance, reliability, and security.

#Types of RPC endpoints

Not all RPC endpoints are the same. Depending on how you connect, the performance, reliability, and limitations can differ. Broadly, there are three categories developers need to know:

#1. Public RPC endpoints

• What they are: Free, shared endpoints provided by blockchain networks or community projects.

• Pros: No setup required, great for testing, easy to access.

• Cons: Rate-limited, slower, and often unreliable for production apps since traffic is shared with thousands of users.

• Example: Ethereum and Solana both offer default public endpoints that wallets can connect to.

#2. Private RPC endpoints

• What they are: Dedicated endpoints, usually from a provider or your own infrastructure, reserved specifically for your app.

• Pros: Faster, consistent performance, not congested by other users, often backed by SLAs (service-level agreements).

• Cons: Usually paid, requires more setup (if self-hosted).

• Use case: Any serious dApp, DeFi platform, or NFT marketplace running in production.

#3. Alternative (Backup) endpoints

• What they are: Secondary endpoints you configure as a fallback in case your main RPC endpoint fails.

• Pros: Improves fault tolerance and user experience even if one endpoint goes down, your app stays functional.

• Cons: More complexity in setup and monitoring.

• Best practice: Always have at least one backup endpoint to avoid single points of failure.

In short:

• Public = free but limited.

• Private = reliable but costs resources.

• Alternative = essential for resilience.

Most production-ready blockchain apps use private RPC endpoints with backup alternatives, while relying on public endpoints mainly for testing or experimentation.

#Ways to access RPC nodes

There are several ways to connect your app to RPC nodes, and the choice depends on your project’s scale, budget, and infrastructure preferences.

#Option 1. Use an RPC node provider

This is by far the most popular option for developers today. RPC node providers handle all the heavy lifting hardware, syncing, monitoring, scaling, and uptime. You simply connect your app to their RPC endpoints and start building.

• Pros: Fast setup, high reliability, scaling options, developer tools (like analytics and monitoring).

• Cons: Dependence on a third party, costs can rise with heavy traffic.

• Best for: Any dApp or project that values speed to market and doesn’t want to run its own infrastructure.

#Popular RPC node providers include:

• Alchemy – RPC endpoints for 40+ blockchains, developer dashboards, APIs for NFTs and DeFi.

• QuickNode – High-performance RPC with advanced monitoring and speed optimization.

• Infura – Long-established Ethereum/Polygon provider, part of ConsenSys.

• Chainstack – Offers RPC endpoints with multi-chain support and easy scaling.

• Ankr – Focuses on decentralized RPC infrastructure and multi-region availability.

Using a provider often comes with free tiers, so you can get started instantly. As your app grows, you can upgrade to dedicated or enterprise-grade plans.

#2. Run Your Own RPC Node

For developers who want maximum control, you can install and run blockchain client software (like Geth, Nethermind, Erigon for Ethereum, or Solana Validator software). Enabling RPC endpoints on these clients turns them into RPC nodes.

• Pros: Full control, no dependency on external providers, customizable.

• Cons: Expensive hardware, long sync times (days to weeks), high maintenance, and constant upgrades.

• Best for: Teams that need sovereignty, compliance, or special configurations.

#3. Use Public Endpoints

Most blockchains provide free public RPC endpoints. They’re shared, rate-limited, and often overloaded, but useful for quick tests.

• Pros: Free and instantly available.

• Cons: Not reliable for production, request limits apply, can go offline unexpectedly.

• Best for: Testing, hobby projects, or early prototyping.

#4. Hybrid / Multi-Provider strategies

The most resilient apps use multiple endpoints. You might:

• Combine a provider endpoint with your own node.

• Use two providers and configure one as a backup.

• Route requests intelligently for load-balancing and fault-tolerance.

This reduces downtime risks and avoids dependence on a single provider.

In practice:

• Small projects start with public endpoints or free provider tiers.

• Growing dApps move to private provider endpoints for performance.

• Serious production apps often use hybrid setups with backups for reliability.

#Real-world use cases of RPC nodes

RPC nodes power almost every interaction you see in the blockchain space. While they often work quietly in the background, they’re central to how wallets, dApps, and marketplaces function. Some common use cases include:

#1. Checking wallet balances

Whenever you open a wallet app like MetaMask or Phantom, the app sends an RPC request to fetch your token balances. Without an RPC node returning that data, your balance screen would be blank.

#2. Sending transactions

When a user approves a transaction like transferring ETH, swapping tokens, or minting an NFT the wallet broadcasts that signed transaction through an RPC node, which pushes it into the blockchain network for validation and inclusion in a block.

#3. Reading smart contract data

dApps use RPC nodes to fetch information stored in smart contracts. For example, a DeFi app might check liquidity pool reserves, or an NFT marketplace might verify token ownership, all through JSON-RPC calls.

#4. NFTs and gaming

NFT platforms rely heavily on RPC nodes to verify ownership, retrieve metadata, and process new mints. Similarly, blockchain-based games use RPC nodes to update in-game states that depend on on-chain data.

#5. DeFi operations

Protocols like Uniswap, Aave, or Compound constantly query on-chain data token prices, lending pool balances, loan health checks all via RPC requests. Without reliable RPC nodes, these platforms wouldn’t function in real time.

#6. Analytics and monitoring

Blockchain explorers, portfolio trackers, and on-chain analytics tools pull vast amounts of data from RPC nodes. They aggregate transaction history, block details, and smart contract activity to make it human-readable.

In practice, every time a user “does something” on-chain, there’s an RPC node in the background making it possible.

#Conclusion

RPC nodes are the invisible backbone of Web3. Every time a wallet fetches balances, a DeFi protocol updates token prices, or an NFT marketplace verifies ownership, it’s happening through RPC calls. Without RPC nodes, the gap between apps and blockchains would be almost impossible to bridge.

We’ve seen that:

• RPC is the communication style that makes remote requests feel local.

• RPC nodes are blockchain nodes configured to accept and respond to those requests.

• RPC endpoints are the access points apps use to connect.

• Public, private, and backup endpoints each serve different needs.

• Developers can choose between self-hosting, public endpoints, or using providers like Alchemy, QuickNode, or Infura, with hybrid setups being best for reliability.

As the ecosystem grows, RPC infrastructure is evolving too. Decentralized RPC networks, multi-provider strategies, and smarter failover systems are becoming more common. The goal is clear: make blockchain access faster, more reliable, and less dependent on single points of failure.