Ethereum RPC
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is the most widely adopted smart contract blockchain, powered by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Developers write smart contracts primarily in Solidity (or other EVM-compatible languages like Vyper, Yul), which compile to EVM bytecode and deploy across Ethereum's decentralized network of validator and full nodes.
Since 2022, Ethereum uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism and maintains an account-based model to track balances and smart contract state. Together, these features make Ethereum a secure, programmable foundation for decentralized applications (dApps).
What is the Ethereum JSON-RPC API?
Ethereum nodes expose a JSON-RPC interface that allows developers to interact with the blockchain programmatically. This is known as the Ethereum JSON-RPC API.
With this API, you can:
- Query blockchain state (blocks, transactions, receipts, logs)
- Send transactions
- Deploy and interact with smart contracts
- Subscribe to real-time events (via WebSocket subscriptions such as eth_subscribe)
You can access the API by:
- Running a local Ethereum client (e.g., Geth, Nethermind, Besu). You can learn how by looking at our node setup guides here.
- Using a hosted provider such as a Quicknode Ethereum endpoint, which delivers low-latency global access, archive data, and enhanced reliability out of the box.
Supported Networks
Quicknode provides access to the following Ethereum networks:
Complete reference for developers building on Ethereum with Quicknode:
QuickStart
Get started with Ethereum quickly. Follow our step-by-step quickstart to set up your endpoint and make your first API request.
Provider Endpoints
Learn how to configure and manage your Ethereum endpoints for optimal performance and reliability.
API Overview
Explore supported APIs, networks, Quicknode products, and enhanced API features for building powerful applications.
Marketplace
Discover and integrate powerful add-ons and tools from the Quicknode Marketplace to enhance your web3 applications.
Endpoint Security
Secure your endpoints with authentication, whitelisting, and best security practices.
Error Codes
Understand common error codes and troubleshooting steps for Ethereum API requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I access the Ethereum JSON-RPC API?
You can access the API by running a local Ethereum client like Geth, Nethermind, or Besu, or by using a hosted provider such as a Quicknode Ethereum endpoint for low-latency global access with enhanced reliability.
What Ethereum networks does Quicknode support?
Quicknode provides access to Ethereum Mainnet (Chain ID 1), Sepolia testnet (Chain ID 11155111), and Hoodi testnet (Chain ID 560048), all with HTTP and WebSocket support, archive data, and no pruning.
Does Quicknode support WebSocket connections for Ethereum?
Yes, Quicknode endpoints support WebSocket (WSS) connections for all supported Ethereum networks, enabling real-time event subscriptions like eth_subscribe.
What can I do with Quicknode's Ethereum RPC service?
You can query blockchain state including blocks, transactions, receipts, and logs, send transactions, deploy and interact with smart contracts, and subscribe to real-time blockchain events.
Does Quicknode provide archive node access for Ethereum?
Yes, all Quicknode Ethereum networks (Mainnet, Sepolia, and Hoodi) offer full archive data with no pruning.