Avalanche Node RPC
Use the Avalanche RPC API to interact with the AVAX blockchain. Send transactions, query balances, fetch block details, and integrate your decentralized applications with robust blockchain support.
Mainnet Endpoint Link
| JSON-RPC | https://api.chain-rpc.online/avalanche |
Example
curl https://api.chain-rpc.online/avalanche \
-X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "X-API-Key: test" \
-d '{ "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1,
"method": "eth_blockNumber",
"params": []
}'
Avalanche is a blockchain platform designed to support a diverse range of decentralized applications (dApps), custom blockchain networks, and financial primitives. Its architecture includes multiple blockchains to optimize performance, scalability, and flexibility.
Why Avalanche Uses Multiple Blockchains
Avalanche consists of three primary blockchains, each serving a specific purpose:
1. X-Chain (Exchange Chain)
- Purpose: Handles the creation and transfer of assets, including AVAX (Avalanche’s native token) and custom assets.
- Consensus: Uses the Avalanche consensus protocol, designed for high throughput and low latency.
- Key Role: Optimized for fast and efficient transactions involving tokenized assets.
- Example Use: Creating or transferring tokenized assets, such as stablecoins.
2. C-Chain (Contract Chain)
- Purpose: Supports smart contracts and is Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible, enabling interaction with Ethereum-based dApps.
- Consensus: Uses the Snowman consensus protocol, optimized for smart contract execution.
- Key Role: Acts as Avalanche’s hub for DeFi and dApps, facilitating seamless migration for Ethereum developers.
- Example Use: Running DeFi apps, decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, or NFT marketplaces.
3. P-Chain (Platform Chain)
- Purpose: Manages network-wide activities such as validator coordination, staking, and creating custom subnets.
- Consensus: Uses the Snowman consensus protocol.
- Key Role: Governs and coordinates Avalanche’s validators and subnets.
- Example Use: Creating subnets (e.g., private blockchains) or managing validators and staking.
Differences Between the Chains
Avalanche’s design allows the X-Chain, C-Chain, and P-Chain to operate within a single node instance through a unified program called AvalancheGo. This program simultaneously supports all three chains, treating each as a virtual chain accessible via distinct APIs: the X-Chain API for asset transfers and creation, the C-Chain API for smart contract operations, and the P-Chain API for staking, validator management, and subnet creation. By sharing resources like storage and processing power, AvalancheGo ensures efficient operation across all chains while providing seamless interaction within a single node instance.
Chain Comparison Table
| Aspect | X-Chain | C-Chain | P-Chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Asset transfers and creation | Smart contracts and dApps | Staking, validators, and subnets |
| Consensus | Avalanche | Snowman | Snowman |
| EVM-Compatible | No | Yes | No |
| Transaction Type | Token transactions | Smart contract interactions | Staking, subnet management |
| Key Role | Asset creation and token transfers | EVM-compatible smart contract execution | Governance and validator coordination |
| Example Use | Transfer AVAX or create custom tokens | Run DeFi apps, deploy dApps, issue NFTs | Stake AVAX, manage validators, create subnets |
Advantages of the Multi-Chain Design
- Specialization: Each chain is optimized for its specific use case, improving performance and reducing congestion.
- Scalability: By separating concerns, Avalanche can scale more effectively as each chain handles different workloads.
- Flexibility: Developers can build custom subnets using the P-Chain to meet unique application requirements.
- EVM Compatibility: The C-Chain facilitates seamless migration of Ethereum dApps without compromising performance.
Cross-chain communication
Cross-chain communication in Avalanche involves a lock-and-mint mechanism. When transferring tokens between chains, such as from the X-Chain to the C-Chain, the token is “burned” or locked on the originating chain and then “minted” or unlocked on the destination chain. This process is atomic, meaning it either completes fully or fails entirely, maintaining the integrity of transactions. Avalanche’s shared key format for wallet addresses ensures a unified user experience, and bridges are available to facilitate communication between Avalanche subnets or with external blockchains like Ethereum.
Composability
Composability in Avalanche is driven by its modular and interoperable design. The C-Chain’s EVM compatibility allows developers to deploy Ethereum-based smart contracts without modification, and its API ecosystem supports cross-chain data access and interaction. Subnets can define custom virtual machines and tokenomics, enabling tailored solutions that still integrate seamlessly with other subnets or primary chains. This composability allows decentralized applications to interact across chains, such as combining liquidity pools from the X-Chain with DeFi protocols on the C-Chain or using the P-Chain for governance.
The integration of Avalanche’s consensus protocol, bridges, and APIs creates a robust ecosystem for interconnected applications. Developers can build complex, interoperable systems with confidence, benefiting from fast transaction speeds, consistent state validation, and the flexibility to customize subnets while maintaining cross-chain operability. This design fosters a highly composable and scalable blockchain network.