Understanding RPC Services in Blockchain: Insights from Triton One's Brian Long

In the rapidly evolving world of blockchain technology, Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services play a crucial role in enhancing user experience and facilitating seamless interactions with decentralized networks. To shed light on this critical component of blockchain infrastructure, Austin from Validated sat down with Brian Long of Triton One, a leading provider of RPC services for Solana and other blockchain networks.

What are RPC Services?

RPC services are the backbone of blockchain interaction, serving as the bridge between users and the decentralized network. Brian Long explains, "At its most basic level, an RPC is the web3 equivalent of the cloud." Just as traditional cloud services power applications on our phones and browsers, RPC services enable blockchain applications to function smoothly by providing a standardized backend infrastructure.

The Role of RPC in Blockchain Ecosystems

One of the key advantages of RPC services in the blockchain world is their interchangeability. Unlike traditional web2 cloud services, where backends are often proprietary and siloed, blockchain RPCs operate on standardized protocols. This standardization allows for greater flexibility and efficiency in the ecosystem.

Brian illustrates this concept with an intriguing analogy: "Imagine if Facebook and X shared the same backend data platform. And then you could actually share a friend list between the two platforms." This level of interoperability is what makes RPC services so powerful in the blockchain space.

RPC vs. Validators: Understanding the Difference

While validators are responsible for processing transactions and maintaining the blockchain's state, RPC nodes serve a different purpose. Brian clarifies, "You don't read data directly from a validator. You read data from a node that is optimized for reading." These RPC nodes are specifically designed to handle high volumes of read requests efficiently, making them crucial for powering blockchain applications.

The Technical Backbone of RPC Services

Delving deeper into the technical aspects, Brian reveals that RPC nodes are essentially modified validators. "The standard RPC node for Solana is a validator on the inside," he explains. These nodes participate in the consensus process internally but don't broadcast votes to the cluster. Instead, they focus on determining the best fork and serving the most up-to-date data to users.

Hardware Requirements for RPC Nodes

Running an RPC service is no small feat in terms of hardware requirements. Brian notes, "The hardware requirements are dramatically larger [than regular validators]." With the growing demands of the Solana network, RPC providers like Triton One have had to continually upgrade their infrastructure:

• RAM: From 512GB to now approaching 1TB
• CPU: Faster processors to handle increased load
• Storage: Multiple NVMe drives for maximized I/O throughput

These robust hardware specifications enable RPC nodes to handle thousands of requests per second, catering to the diverse needs of blockchain applications and users.

The Complexity of Data Retrieval

When a user opens a wallet application like Phantom or Backpack, a complex series of data retrievals occurs behind the scenes. Brian breaks down this process: "When you open your wallet, your wallet sends a message to the RPC server. Hi, I'm Austin. Please show me my recent transaction history."

This single action can trigger dozens of separate requests to the RPC node, involving specialized indexes and multiple data lookups. The RPC provider's job is to ensure all these requests are handled swiftly and accurately, providing a seamless experience for the end-user.

Transaction Delivery and Stake Weighted Quality of Service

One of the most critical functions of RPC services is ensuring reliable transaction delivery. Brian explains the two primary pathways for transaction delivery:

1. Direct delivery to the current leader
2. High-priority delivery through a staked validator

The second method, known as Stake Weighted Quality of Service (SWQOS), provides a privileged route for transactions. "By using stake weighted quality of service, you can go around [network contention]," Brian explains. This feature is particularly crucial for traders and applications requiring high-priority transaction processing.

Global Deployment and Optimization

RPC services aren't just about powerful hardware; strategic global deployment is equally important. Brian outlines Triton One's approach: "We want to have an RPC server near all the users, in three different regions - Asia, North America, Europe."

This global distribution strategy minimizes latency and ensures users have access to nearby servers, enhancing the overall performance of blockchain applications. However, Brian notes that there's still work to be done in expanding coverage to the southern hemisphere.

Challenges in RPC Implementation

Implementing and maintaining RPC services comes with its own set of challenges. One significant issue Brian highlights is the impact of undersea cable disruptions on global network latency. He shares a recent example: "In Tokyo right now, there is [a cut cable]. And so what that means is that in Tokyo, the round trip latency from a server in Tokyo to the Jito Relayer in Frankfurt is just under 250 milliseconds round trip."

Such disruptions can severely impact the performance of RPC services and, by extension, the entire blockchain ecosystem. It underscores the importance of having robust, globally distributed infrastructure to mitigate these risks.

The Old Faithful Project: Democratizing Data Access

One of the most exciting initiatives discussed in the podcast is the Old Faithful project, spearheaded by Triton One. Brian explains the motivation behind this project: "We thought that the, what we need to do is we need to get a copy of the entire archive hosted in a place that is accessible to anybody."

Old Faithful aims to make Solana's entire transaction history freely available to anyone who wants to access it. This initiative addresses a critical issue in the blockchain space - the centralization of historical data behind paywalls or gatekeepers.

The Importance of Data Accessibility

Brian emphasizes the significance of data accessibility in the blockchain ecosystem: "In order for you to get the data, you have to go through a gatekeeper and that sucks. And we're one of the gatekeepers and I think that sucks, right?"

By hosting the entire Solana archive on Filecoin, Old Faithful allows researchers, developers, and enthusiasts to access historical blockchain data without going through centralized providers. This move towards open data access aligns with the core principles of decentralization and transparency that underpin blockchain technology.

State Compression and Its Implications

The podcast also delves into the topic of state compression, a recent development in the Solana ecosystem. Brian offers his perspective on this controversial feature: "My spicy take on that is the accounts are not really compressed. They just get moved. And they get moved to a different place where you have to pay to read it."

State compression has significant implications for RPC providers, as it shifts much of the transaction data processing onto their servers. This change requires RPC operators to maintain and index large amounts of historical data, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the ecosystem.

The Future of Ledger Growth and Data Management

As blockchain networks like Solana continue to grow and process more transactions, the question of data management becomes increasingly important. Brian addresses concerns about ledger growth and the potential need for data pruning in the future.

He suggests that while maintaining a complete ledger history is important for transparency and auditability, there may be ways to optimize storage and access: "It can be stored on more glacial storage formats, so it doesn't have to be fast."

The Reader Pays Model and Data Filtering

An interesting concept discussed in the podcast is the "reader pays" model for data access. Brian explains: "When they pay a fee to write a transaction, they are only paying to write the transaction. They are not paying a single lamport towards the cost of indexing it or making it available to read."

This model opens up possibilities for selective data indexing and filtering, potentially allowing users or applications to choose which data they want to access and pay for. It could provide a solution to the growing challenge of storing and indexing vast amounts of blockchain data, especially as networks scale to handle millions of transactions per second.

Expanding RPC Services to Multiple Blockchains

Triton One's expertise isn't limited to Solana. Brian reveals that the company provides RPC services for multiple blockchain networks, including acting as a Wormhole guardian for over 25 different chains. However, he notes that the implementation of RPC services varies significantly between networks: "They're completely different. So there's other than at the load balancer level where we have a request coming in. All the requests will go into the same load balancers. And looking at where they're destined, they'll go to different back ends."

This multi-chain approach showcases the versatility and expertise required in the RPC service industry, as providers must adapt to the unique requirements and architectures of various blockchain networks.

The Human Element in RPC Services

Despite the highly technical nature of RPC services, the human element remains crucial. Brian shares that Triton One operates with a lean team of over 15 people globally distributed across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. This global distribution allows for 24/7 coverage and support, highlighting the importance of human expertise in maintaining and optimizing these critical blockchain infrastructure services.

Conclusion: The Critical Role of RPC Services in Blockchain Adoption

As our discussion with Brian Long demonstrates, RPC services play a pivotal role in making blockchain technology accessible and usable for both developers and end-users. From ensuring efficient data retrieval to facilitating reliable transaction processing, RPC providers like Triton One are at the forefront of blockchain infrastructure development.

The insights shared in this podcast underscore the complexity and importance of RPC services in the blockchain ecosystem. As networks like Solana continue to evolve and scale, the role of RPC providers will only grow in significance. Initiatives like Old Faithful and ongoing efforts to optimize data management and accessibility are crucial steps towards a more open, efficient, and user-friendly blockchain ecosystem.

As we look to the future of blockchain technology, it's clear that the continued development and improvement of RPC services will be instrumental in driving wider adoption and realizing the full potential of decentralized networks. The work of companies like Triton One is not just about providing a service; it's about building the foundation for a more accessible and efficient blockchain future.

Facts + Figures

• RPC services are described as the "web3 equivalent of the cloud," providing standardized backend infrastructure for blockchain applications.
• Triton One's RPC nodes have evolved from using 512GB RAM servers to now approaching 1TB RAM requirements.
• RPC nodes can handle thousands of requests per second, varying based on the complexity of the request.
• The round trip latency from Tokyo to Frankfurt's Jito Relayer is currently just under 250 milliseconds due to a cut undersea cable.
• Triton One operates with a team of over 15 people globally distributed across Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
• The Old Faithful project hosts the entire Solana archive, which is approximately 300 terabytes of data including indexes.
• Triton One serves as a Wormhole guardian for over 25 different blockchain networks.
• State compression on Solana has led to the creation of indexes that can easily reach a couple of terabytes in size.
• The current Solana ledger history is growing but not at a rate that is currently problematic for storage.
• RPC providers like Triton One are now running infrastructure for multiple blockchains beyond just Solana.

Questions Answered

What is an RPC service in blockchain?

An RPC (Remote Procedure Call) service in blockchain is the equivalent of cloud services in Web2, providing a standardized backend infrastructure for blockchain applications. It serves as a bridge between users and the decentralized network, allowing for efficient data retrieval and transaction processing. RPC services are crucial for powering blockchain applications and ensuring smooth user interactions with the network.

How do RPC nodes differ from validators?

RPC nodes are optimized for reading data and serving user requests, while validators are focused on processing transactions and maintaining the blockchain's state. While RPC nodes are based on validator software, they are specifically designed to handle high volumes of read requests efficiently. They have additional indexing capabilities and are configured to prioritize query performance over other validator functions.

What are the hardware requirements for running an RPC node?

Running an RPC node requires significantly more powerful hardware than a standard validator. Current specifications for Solana RPC nodes include up to 1TB of RAM, faster CPUs, and multiple NVMe drives for storage. These robust hardware requirements enable RPC nodes to handle thousands of requests per second and maintain the necessary indexes for efficient data retrieval.

What is the Old Faithful project?

The Old Faithful project is an initiative by Triton One to make Solana's entire transaction history freely accessible to anyone. It involves hosting approximately 300 terabytes of Solana's archive data on Filecoin, allowing researchers, developers, and enthusiasts to access historical blockchain data without going through centralized providers. This project aims to democratize data access and aligns with the principles of decentralization in blockchain technology.

How does state compression impact RPC services?

State compression on Solana has shifted much of the transaction data processing onto RPC servers. This requires RPC providers to maintain and index large amounts of historical data, creating new challenges and opportunities. While it allows for more efficient storage of certain types of data (like compressed NFTs), it also increases the computational and storage requirements for RPC providers who need to maintain indexes of this compressed data.

What is the "reader pays" model in blockchain data access?

The "reader pays" model refers to a system where the cost of indexing and making data available for reading is borne by those who want to access the data, rather than those who write the data to the blockchain. This model opens up possibilities for selective data indexing and filtering, potentially allowing users or applications to choose which data they want to access and pay for, which could help manage the growing challenge of storing and indexing vast amounts of blockchain data.

How do RPC services handle global network latency issues?

RPC providers like Triton One deploy their servers globally to minimize latency and ensure users have access to nearby servers. They strategically place servers in major regions like Asia, North America, and Europe. However, challenges remain, such as undersea cable disruptions that can significantly impact latency. Providers continuously work on optimizing their global infrastructure to mitigate these issues and provide consistent performance worldwide.

What is Stake Weighted Quality of Service (SWQOS) in Solana?

Stake Weighted Quality of Service (SWQOS) is a feature in Solana that provides a privileged route for transaction delivery. It allows transactions to be sent through staked validators, bypassing potential network contention issues. This feature is particularly important for traders and applications requiring high-priority transaction processing, as it can improve the reliability and speed of transaction delivery to the network.