Accessing web3 data may seem straightforward at first. You simply select your network, start up an RPC (Remote Procedure Call), and watch the on-chain data flow in. When you’re dealing with just one blockchain or a few, this process often works smoothly. However, things can quickly become complicated after multiple attempts.
In an omnichain world, where new networks are emerging faster than infrastructure providers can index them, projects looking for a universal web3 data delivery solution may face unexpected challenges. The reality is that it’s more complex than it appears. While many RPC providers support multiple chains, very few support all networks, making the task of adding new ones and integrating emerging protocols feel like a game of whack-a-mole.
No one said web3 was easy. But it doesn’t have to be hard. Unfortunately, the deeper you dive into the idiosyncrasies of web3 infra, the more complicated it becomes. Sure, you can have multichain dapps that pull in data from different networks, oracles, and off-chain feeds. But you’ll pay for the privilege, both in dollars and in time that could be better directed elsewhere.
Web3 Isn’t Free
Web3 encompasses many concepts, but it isn’t free. The distributed nodes that operate around the clock, the vast amounts of data being consumed every second, and the data centers that run at full capacity all incur fixed costs. For end users, these costs manifest as network fees.
For developers of decentralized applications (dApps), whether they are creating a player-versus-player game or a decentralized finance (DeFi) trading tool, these expenses primarily take the form of infrastructure fees, which are associated with data.
When projects are at an early stage of their lifecycle, data costs are usually manageable. It’s only later, once the user base grows, and with it the number of RPCs required, that things can snowball. Anyone who’s spent time doing back-end duties with a web3 startup knows the story: a new blockchain is gaining traction, the team decides to integrate support, and suddenly the scramble begins.
Who handles the data feeds for that chain? Will another partnership or subscription be needed? For developers trying to keep pace with a rapidly expanding ecosystem, it’s like chasing a moving target: each new network demands its own provider, with incompatible APIs, uncertain coverage, and rising overhead.
The process of securing reliable on-chain data can feel positively Sisyphean, leaving projects lumped with a tangle of disparate services, fragmented operations, and bloated resource costs – both human and financial.
The Hidden Cost of Chasing Data
At present, developers are often required to cobble together a patchwork of RPC providers to achieve this connectivity. Each provider serves specific blockchains, meaning a new provider must often be sourced whenever a project expands to support a different chain. And of course, every new provider requires integration, management, and monitoring, all of which demand dedicated human resources.
The reason why web3 runs on RPCs, lest we forget, is to ensure that data delivery – like every other core infra layer – is fully decentralized. Getting data straight from centralized APIs is easy. But it’s also a recipe for censorship and service interruption that goes against everything crypto stands for.
It’s one of the great paradoxes at the heart of web3’s insatiable quest for more data from more chains: the pursuit of decentralization can itself become centralized around the pipeline of node providers.
Every new chain to be integrated requires a day or more of research, onboarding, and testing. It’s getting to the stage where omnichain projects require a full-time hire whose sole job is to track, manage, and negotiate with numerous data providers. This dependency runs counter to the ethos of web3: if a dedicated staffer is tasked with plugging and unplugging all the RPCs, it’s a sign that something has gone awry.
Let Them Consume Data
What’s the solution to the data delivery challenges in web3 that could soon escalate into a major problem? It starts with planning ahead. The RPC provider that meets your needs today might not be suitable as you begin to incorporate more complex L2s and L3s.
You should think of this process as choosing a life partner: you need to find someone who will support you throughout your journey, no matter where it leads.
This may require looking beyond the dominant big three companies in the industry and considering agile, up-and-coming providers who are eager to succeed and willing to go the extra mile. Look for features like around-the-clock support, flexible pricing, and a business model that scales with your growth. Fortunately, there are infrastructure providers that meet these criteria.
A new breed of infrastructure solutions is intent on simplifying this data headache. Among them is dRPC, which consolidates connectivity for dozens of blockchains into a single platform. Instead of juggling multiple providers, teams can route all their data requests through a unified interface that’s designed to automatically support new networks as they come online.
The real differentiator is that projects aren’t forced to sign up for a new service whenever they add chain support; the expansion happens automatically at the platform level, drastically reducing developer overhead.
By employing a multichain, decentralized design, dRPC eliminates the need for teams to search for specialized solutions. This approach ensures consistent uptime, timely block data, and equitable load balancing, allowing developers to stay agile in a fast-paced market. dRPC represents a significant step toward the sustainable data environment that web3 requires, enabling more innovation with fewer roadblocks.
dRPC is by no means the only company championing this formula, but its model embodies what web3 projects should be looking for – and preferably before, not after, they’ve added 50 chains into the mix.
The Future of Data Delivery
Scaling web3 data infrastructure has long been a challenge, with the constant addition of new chains leading to frustration for DevOps teams. Managing multiple subscriptions with varying pricing models complicates usage, billing, and node reliability.
The answer lies in universal gateways that can easily integrate emerging blockchains, enhancing interoperability. This allows teams to add new chain integrations as effortlessly as updating a config file, freeing them to focus on user experience and cost efficiency.
The future of web3 depends on its ability to manage data across various blockchains seamlessly. Instead of repeatedly searching for new data providers, integrating should be as simple as a software update. This shift will help the industry transition to a cohesive and decentralized future where data is consistently accessible.
