The Ethereum network has taken a significant step towards decentralization with the launch of DRPC, a decentralized RPC (remote procedure call) network, on Thursday. The new network aims to mitigate some of the centralization risks that have persisted in Ethereum’s infrastructure layer, which has the potential to threaten the integrity and security of decentralized applications (dapps) relying on it.
RPCs are communication protocols used by dapps to interact and transfer information, such as transaction details, to and from blockchains. Ethereum’s infrastructure layer, which utilizes these protocols, remains one of the last centralized processing holdouts. An attack or undermining of RPCs could have dire consequences for the network and the dapps that depend on it.
Strengthening the Ethereum Ecosystem
DRPC addresses this issue by leveraging a globally distributed decentralized network of RPC service providers and dividing the load among them. Constantine Zaitcev, Chief Product Officer of DRPC, said in a note that “decentralized RPC services form the bedrock for a trustless, secure, and scalable network. The launch of DRPC will enable end-to-end decentralization for Ethereum.”
Zaitcev further explained that by decentralizing the infrastructure layer, DRPC will help build confidence in Ethereum’s RPC nodes, which play a crucial role in fueling the network’s growth.
This development is particularly timely, as it comes just before the much-anticipated Shanghai upgrade for Ethereum, enabling ether stakers to withdraw tokens from the network. These users primarily rely on centralized RPC providers, which exposes them to counterparty risks in case of bugs or exploits.
Currently, DRPC supports projects built on Ethereum, but it has plans to expand its reach to other EVM-based networks in the coming months. These networks include Arbitrum, Polygon, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), and Optimism. This expansion will help ensure that a wider array of dapps and blockchain platforms can benefit from DRPC’s decentralized infrastructure, promoting trust and security across the broader ecosystem.
