Behind every wallet transaction, smart contract interaction, or blockchain explorer query, there’s a hidden layer of communication between a user’s device and the blockchain network. This invisible bridge is powered by something called an RPC node and its corresponding RPC endpoint.

An RPC node is a specialized computer server that acts as users’ gateway to the blockchain. An RPC endpoint is the specific “address” or “doorway” to send requests to the RPC node and receive responses. Together, they form the essential link between users, applications, and the decentralized blockchain world.

In traditional computing, a Remote Procedure Call or an RPC allows one program (the client) to request a service from another program (the server) on a different machine as if the service were local. The client doesn’t need to know how the server performs the task. It only needs to send the request and receive the result.

In blockchain ecosystems, RPCs serve the same purpose. They enable communication between applications and the underlying blockchain network. Clients such as wallets, dApps, and analytics platforms do not run the entire blockchain locally. They rely on RPC to query data, retrieve balances, submit transactions, or monitor blockchain events.

An RPC node is a blockchain node configured to handle remote procedure calls. In simple terms, it’s a server that listens for requests from users or applications and responds with information from the blockchain network.

Think of it like a librarian. You ask for the title of a specific book, and the librarian searches the catalog, finds the answer, and tells you. Similarly, when you ask an RPC node, “What’s the balance of this address?” or “What’s the latest block number?”, it fetches the data directly from the blockchain and returns it to you.

Not all RPC nodes are created equal. They differ in how much data they store and how deeply they can query the blockchain:

• Full node: Stores the entire blockchain history and verifies every block and transaction. It can handle most RPC requests quickly and securely, making it ideal for developers who need accurate, real-time data.
• Archive node: Goes beyond a full node by keeping every historical state of the blockchain—past balances, smart contract storage, and more at every block height. Archive nodes are essential for explorers, analytics tools, and dApps that need deep historical data, but they’re also extremely resource-intensive and expensive to run.
• Light node: Stores only essential data, relying on cryptographic proofs from full nodes to verify information. Light nodes are perfect for wallets and mobile apps that need quick, lightweight access to the network without maintaining the full ledger.

An RPC endpoint is the network address or URL where applications send their RPC requests. It acts as the interface that connects the user or application to an RPC node. Each endpoint supports a set of predefined methods, such as checking the current balance of an account, submitting a transaction, or querying historical blocks.

RPC endpoints can be classified as either public or private. Public endpoints are open for anyone to use and often have rate limits to prevent abuse. Private endpoints are reserved for specific users or applications, offering higher speed and additional security features.

Many developers use services like Infura, Alchemy, or Ankr, which provide ready-to-use RPC endpoints. These services remove the complexity of running a full node while offering reliable access to popular blockchain networks.

RPC nodes and endpoints work hand in hand. The node is the engine that processes blockchain data, while the endpoint is the doorway through which that engine is accessed.

When a user sends a transaction or checks a token balance on a wallet application, the application sends a request to an RPC endpoint. The endpoint forwards the request to the RPC node, which validates the request against the blockchain ledger. Once validated, the node performs the action, like broadcasting a transaction or retrieving account information, and sends a response back to the application through the same endpoint.

All of this happens in milliseconds. This smooth interaction allows a wallet or dApp to communicate instantly with the blockchain network, creating a seamless user experience.

One of the most pressing concerns surrounding RPC usage is centralization. Despite blockchain’s vision of decentralization, much of its daily activity flows through a handful of major RPC infrastructure providers such as Infura. On Ethereum, this concentration has become especially evident. Many wallets, dApps, and exchanges rely on these third-party services instead of running their own full nodes

This overreliance poses several risks. When a majority of network traffic passes through a few centralized providers, those providers effectively become gatekeepers of access to the blockchain. If a major RPC service experiences downtime, suffers a security breach, or is forced to comply with external regulations, a large portion of Ethereum’s ecosystem could face outages or restrictions simultaneously.

The issue goes beyond uptime. Centralized RPC providers can, intentionally or unintentionally, filter or censor transactions, affecting users’ ability to interact freely with the network. Moreover, because these services operate from specific jurisdictions, they remain vulnerable to legal and regulatory pressures that could compel them to block certain transactions or restrict access based on location or activity type. This runs counter to the foundational principle of blockchain: permissionless, censorship-resistant access to information and value.

Centralization is only one piece of the puzzle. Misconfigured endpoints can leak sensitive data, exposing systems to exploitation. In addition, stale or delayed responses, often caused by overloaded or underperforming nodes, can disrupt time-sensitive operations such as trading, arbitrage, or smart contract execution.

Practical issues like rate limits, downtime, and inconsistent performance further complicate reliability, especially for public endpoints. Developers should adopt redundancy strategies by using multiple providers, continuously monitor latency and uptime, and regularly audit their infrastructure.

Lastly, privacy remains an overlooked risk. RPC requests can reveal IP addresses, query patterns, and usage metadata, potentially exposing sensitive business or operational information.

RPC nodes and their endpoints form the essential gateway that connects users and applications to the blockchain ecosystem. By enabling seamless communication between dApps, wallets, and decentralized networks, this infrastructure eliminates the need for individuals to run full nodes locally, making blockchain technology practically accessible.

Yet this convenience comes with trade-offs. Reliance on centralized RPC providers introduces single points of failure and potential censorship risks that contradict the decentralized ideals blockchains were built upon.

As blockchain technology continues to advance, robust RPC infrastructure will remain the critical backbone ensuring that decentralized applications remain responsive, secure, and scalable.