GetBlock: Empowering dApps with API-based connections

What’s common between the Ethereum price rally, DeFi mania, and NFT euphoria? More or less, decentralized applications (dApps), their teams and clients are among the most successful beneficiaries of every red-hot trend in the Web3 sphere. 

Nodes infrastructure works like the DNA of this or that blockchain. That’s why a reliable, fast and resource-efficient node connection is a sine qua non for modern decentralized applications.

What is GetBlock and What is special about it?

Launched in 2019, GetBlock empowers decentralized applications with API-based connections to multiple blockchains. Simply put, it ensures the seamless and fast connection between Web3 ‘frontend’ (dApps) and ‘backend’ (blockchain nodes).

As one of the flagship services of the segment, GetBlock is well-known for its ‘killing features’:

• Unmatched range of blockchains supported: normally, node connection providers list up to 10 blockchains while GetBlock has proudly integrated 40+ networks;
• All trending smart contracts platforms are available (Ethereum, Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, Optimism, and so on);
• ‘Generous’ free plans for early-stage dApps;
• The fastest connection to dedicated Binance Smart Chain (BSC) node;
• ‘One-stop shop’ for dApps: GetBlock’s USP is a combination of infrastructure, analytics, and consulting services.
• Promo campaigns on the hottest offerings.

What is a blockchain node?

A blockchain node should be referred to as a hardware element of a blockchain consensus. Actually, it is a computer that stores the ‘state’ – the general information about the in-blockchain activity (balances, transfers, accounts, and so on). 

In a blockchain, the nodes are interconnected with each other: to keep the blockchain’s integrity, the node needs to be synchronized with the number of its peers.

The interaction between nodes allows blockchains to be trustworthy, decentralized, and attack-resistant. Every blockchain has nodes of different types: light nodes, full nodes, archive nodes, masternodes, etc.

Node infrastructure is what makes blockchain different from cryptographically secure databases.

What is a blockchain node provider – and who needs its services?

Long story short, running a full blockchain node is a very cumbersome, bulky, and costly process. As such, the concept of node access providers (node providers, node connection providers) gained traction in recent years.

Node providers should be referred to as the services that connect decentralized (on-chain) applications to blockchains. Typically, this connection is established via API keys. As a result, the node provider becomes responsible for the entire ‘heavy lifting’. 

Its clients have the endpoint that allows their software to access blockchain – and they are good to go. In a ‘plug-and-play’ manner, dApps are connected to blockchains with the API keys. This scenario allows dApps teams to stay focused on the technical and marketing progress of their products instead of keeping an eye on blockchain’s availability.

Every wallet, decentralized game, on-chain casino, high-risk scheme, NFT marketplace, or yield farming ecosystem is a potential customer of a node provider’s services.

Infrastructure by GetBlock: Shared and Dedicated Nodes

Providing seamless, fast, and cost-efficient access to blockchain’s nodes is a backbone element of GetBlock’s offering. Two types of services are offered in this module: shared nodes and dedicated nodes.

Shared nodes

The access to shared blockchain nodes is an entry-level service by GetBlock. Ordering the ‘Shared Node’ allows decentralized applications to utilize this or that node together with other customers. This option is suitable for the majority of early-stage dApps or for the applications under testing.

Image by GetBlock

Both mainnet and testnet connections are available for Shared Node users. In the ‘Shared Nodes’ menu of ‘Products’ module, the full list of blockchains available can be found. 

Image by GetBlock

‘More Info’ dashboard demonstrates the comprehensive information about the blockchain chosen: the availability rate, the methods of API connection (JSON-RPC, REST, WebSockets), current block height (number of the last block mined), the version of the nodes software used, the average connection speed, the URLs of endpoints, etc.

Dedicated nodes

Just like with dedicated servers, using dedicated node books a business class seat for every decentralized application. With ‘Dedicated Nodes’ service by GetBlock, the application accesses exclusive infrastructure on the chosen network at maximum speed with no rate limits.

With dedicated nodes by GetBlock, users can choose a preferable API method (JSON RPC, WebSockets, GraphQL), access full historical data from the blockchain, integrate third-party software, and add a number of customized features.

Binance Smart Chain (BSC), the world’s fastest-growing smart contracts platform, is the most popular dedicated node of GetBlock. It is already trusted by a number of mainstream retail applications – decentralized gaming metaverses, wallets, trading bots, DEXs and multi-purpose DeFi protocols.

Image by GetBlock

In a word, with GetBlock’s dedicated BSC node, a dApp can get everything available with Ethereum (ETH) – but without paying jaw-dropping fees and free from congestion threats. 

The pricing and conditions of dedicated node connection would be discussed with GetBlock’s business development managers: besides General Service Level Agreement (SLA), GetBlock can implement customized SLA for premium clients.

Right now, in early Q4, 2021, GetBlock launched a ‘2+1’ promo on its dedicated nodes: users can pay for two months and use the node infrastructure for three months.

Expertise by GetBlock: Consulting

Besides high-end technical solutions, GetBlock’s experts can provide their expertise to CEOs and CTOs of early-stage blockchain products. ‘Software-as-a-Service’ veterans from GetBlock are well-known OGs in the most complicated spheres of Web3 knowledge.

For instance, they know how to use on-premises deployments to reduce latency, how to roll out the blockchain node from scratch, how to integrate third-party systems with distributed ledgers, how to develop and use permissioned distributed systems, and so on.

Final thoughts

• GetBlock is a top-tier node connection provider focused on empowering crypto businesses with API connection to blockchains including BSC, Polygon, Ethereum;
• With GetBlock, uses can order shared and dedicated nodes, get raw data for valuable insights, develop the explorer from scratch;
• GetBlock’s pricing is flexible, lucrative ‘2+1’ promo campaigns are live;
• Recently, GetBlock launched a consulting module to help blockchain developers in addressing the crucial issues of the modern Web3 sphere.