If you’ve ever built a dApp, used MetaMask, or called a smart contract, you’ve already interacted with an RPC node, even if you didn’t realize it.
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes are the connective tissue between blockchain networks and the applications built on top of them. They’re how your app “talks” to the blockchain.
Let’s break it down.
What Exactly Is an RPC Node?
A node is a computer that participates in a blockchain network, maintaining a copy of the ledger, validating transactions, and sometimes producing blocks.
An RPC node is a specific type of node that exposes an interface (usually over HTTPS or WebSocket) to let applications read and write data to the blockchain.
When your app sends a request like:
eth_getBalance
eth_sendTransaction
eth_call
… it’s talking to a blockchain node via an RPC endpoint.
In short:
RPC nodes = the API layer between your app and the chain.
Without them, your app couldn’t query data or submit transactions.
Why They Matter for Developers
When you connect a wallet or a dApp to Ethereum, Solana, or Haveto, you’re routing through an RPC provider, whether it’s Infura, Alchemy, QuickNode, Ankr, or your own setup.
Here’s what RPC nodes handle under the hood:
Transaction broadcasting → submitting signed transactions to the network.
State queries → fetching balances, logs, block numbers, etc.
Event subscriptions → tracking contract events or chain updates in real time.
Chain syncing → ensuring your view of the blockchain is up-to-date.
If your node is slow, overloaded, or out of sync, your app feels broken. That’s why choosing and understanding RPC infrastructure matters so much.
Public vs. Private RPC Nodes
Not all RPC nodes are created equal. Depending on what stage your project is in, you’ll likely choose between public and private RPC endpoints.
Public RPC nodes are open and free to access, perfect for testing, side projects, or quick experiments. They make it easy to connect without setup or authentication, which is great when you’re just getting started. However, because they’re shared with thousands of users, they often come with rate limits, slower response times, and reliability issues under heavy load.
Private RPC nodes, on the other hand, are purpose-built for production-grade applications. They offer dedicated bandwidth, higher reliability, and customizable configurations, plus no rate limits. The tradeoff is cost and the need for maintenance if you’re self-hosting.
In short:
Public endpoints like https://ethereum.publicnode.com
are great for exploration and testing.Private or managed RPC setups are the go-to for production dApps and high-traffic environments where performance, stability, and analytics matter most.
A Quick Look Under the Hood
A typical RPC request flow looks like this:
- Your frontend sends a JSON-RPC request:
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"method": "eth_blockNumber",
"params": [],
"id": 1
}
- The RPC node processes it and returns a response:
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"result": "0x10d4f",
"id": 1
}
- Your dApp interprets it, showing the current block number or using it for sync logic.
It’s all simple JSON over HTTP, but what’s happening underneath is complex distributed consensus, validation, and cryptographic verification.
Beyond the Basics: Smart RPC Strategies
For advanced developers, consider:
Load Balancing → use multiple providers or nodes for failover.
Caching → store frequently requested data (like token balances).
Rate Limit Handling → queue or batch calls to avoid timeouts.
WebSocket Subscriptions → for live updates instead of constant polling.
Multi-Chain Support → abstract your RPC layer so you can easily switch networks.
Modern frameworks and libraries (like Viem, Ethers, or Web3-Hooks) help manage these patterns more elegantly.
The Bigger Picture
RPC nodes are the backbone of every blockchain app.
They define your app’s reliability, speed, and scalability.
At a higher level, the future of decentralized compute, including projects like Haveto, is expanding the role of nodes even further.
Instead of just relaying requests, nodes can become active compute units, running AI models or distributed logic directly on-chain.
That’s where the next wave of developer innovation is headed:
from “nodes as gateways” → to “nodes as computation.”
Final Thought
Every blockchain interaction starts with one simple RPC call.
Understanding how those calls work and how to optimize them is the foundation for building faster, more scalable, and more resilient Web3 apps.
What’s your setup? Do you use public endpoints, managed RPCs, or run your own nodes? Would love to hear what’s worked best for you 👇
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