---
name: chainstack
description: Use when deploying blockchain nodes, managing RPC endpoints,
  configuring access rules, creating projects and networks, rotating
  credentials, querying blockchain data, or automating infrastructure management
  across 70+ blockchain networks. Reach for this skill when users need to set up
  blockchain infrastructure, integrate with web3 applications, or manage node
  deployments programmatically.
metadata:
  mintlify-proj: chainstack
  version: "1.0"
---

# Chainstack Skill

## Product summary

Chainstack is a managed blockchain infrastructure platform supporting 70+ networks with RPC node deployment, endpoint management, and programmatic infrastructure control. Agents use Chainstack to deploy nodes, manage credentials, configure access rules, and integrate blockchain endpoints into applications. Key resources: **Console** at https://console.chainstack.com/, **Platform API v2** for programmatic management, **Node endpoints** (HTTPS, WSS, gRPC), **Authentication** via API keys, tokens, or basic auth. Primary docs: https://docs.chainstack.com/

## When to use

Deploy this skill when:
- User requests to deploy a blockchain node (Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, etc.)
- Need to create or manage projects and networks
- Integrating RPC endpoints into applications
- Configuring access rules or rotating node credentials
- Querying blockchain data via RPC methods
- Managing infrastructure programmatically via Platform API
- Troubleshooting node connectivity or authentication issues
- Migrating workloads from other providers
- Setting up multichain endpoints for multiple networks
- Monitoring node performance or request metrics

## Quick reference

### Node types and billing models

| Node Type | Billing | Best For | Deployment |
|-----------|---------|----------|------------|
| **Global Node** | Per-request (RUs) | Default choice, global distribution, auto-scaling | <1 second |
| **Dedicated Node** | Monthly compute + storage | Sustained heavy load, custom configs, specialized needs | Contact support |
| **Unlimited Node** (add-on) | Flat monthly fee (RPS tier) | Predictable costs, high throughput (25–1000 RPS) | On any node |
| **Trader Node** | Per-request (RUs) | ⚠️ Deprecated Dec 1, 2026 — migrate to Global Node | 3–6 min |

### Endpoint formats

```
HTTPS (key-protected):
https://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/YOUR_AUTH_KEY

WSS (key-protected):
wss://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/YOUR_AUTH_KEY

HTTPS (basic auth):
https://username:password@ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com

gRPC (x-token in metadata):
sui-mainnet.core.chainstack.com:443
x-token: YOUR_TOKEN
```

### Platform API v2 endpoints

| Task | Method | Endpoint |
|------|--------|----------|
| List projects | GET | `/v2/projects/` |
| Create project | POST | `/v2/projects/` |
| List nodes | GET | `/v2/nodes/` |
| Create node | POST | `/v2/nodes/` |
| Update node | PATCH | `/v2/nodes/{node_id}/` |
| Delete node | DELETE | `/v2/nodes/{node_id}/` |
| List access rules | GET | `/v2/nodes/{node_id}/access-rules/` |
| Create access rule | POST | `/v2/nodes/{node_id}/access-rules/` |
| Update access rule | PATCH | `/v2/nodes/{node_id}/access-rules/{id}/` |

### Authentication methods

| Method | Use Case | Security |
|--------|----------|----------|
| **API Key** (Platform API) | Programmatic infrastructure management | Bearer token in Authorization header |
| **Key auth** (Node endpoint) | Application queries | Token in URL (`/YOUR_KEY`) |
| **Basic auth** (Node endpoint) | Legacy systems, header-based | Username:password in Authorization header |
| **Multichain token** (Node endpoint) | Multiple nodes, one token | `mt_` prefix, works across attached nodes |
| **x-token** (gRPC) | gRPC endpoints (Sui, Solana) | Passed in request metadata |

### Common RPC methods by protocol

**Ethereum/EVM**: `eth_blockNumber`, `eth_getBalance`, `eth_call`, `eth_sendRawTransaction`, `eth_getLogs`, `eth_getTransactionReceipt`

**Solana**: `getBalance`, `getBlock`, `getTransaction`, `sendTransaction`, `getProgramAccounts`, `getTokenAccountsByOwner`

**Bitcoin**: `getbestblockhash`, `getblock`, `getrawtransaction`, `getblockchaininfo`

**TRON**: HTTP `/wallet` API, JSON-RPC, gRPC on single endpoint

## Decision guidance

### When to use Global Node vs Dedicated Node

| Scenario | Global Node | Dedicated Node |
|----------|-------------|-----------------|
| Starting out, variable traffic | ✓ | |
| Sustained high throughput (>100 RPS) | Consider Unlimited add-on | ✓ |
| Custom node configuration needed | | ✓ |
| Cost predictability important | Unlimited add-on | ✓ |
| Regional latency-critical workload | | ✓ |
| Rapid deployment needed | ✓ | |
| Archive data access required | ✓ (configure) | ✓ (configure) |

### When to use each authentication method

| Scenario | Method | Reason |
|----------|--------|--------|
| Backend server, private key | Key auth in URL | Simple, secure if URL is private |
| Frontend browser app | Basic auth or multichain | Avoid exposing key in URL |
| Multiple nodes, one token | Multichain token | Simplify credential management |
| Legacy system, header-based | Basic auth | Standard HTTP Authorization header |
| gRPC protocol (Sui, Solana) | x-token in metadata | Protocol requirement |

### Archive vs Full node mode

| Mode | Data | Use Case | Cost |
|------|------|----------|------|
| **Full** | Last ~128 blocks + current state | Most queries, transactions | Lower |
| **Archive** | Complete history + all states | Historical queries, forensics, traces | Higher |

## Workflow

### 1. Deploy a node and get an endpoint

1. **Create an account** — Sign up at https://console.chainstack.com/
2. **Create a project** — Click "Create project", name it, optionally add description
3. **Add a network** — Click "Join Network" or "Get Started", select protocol (Ethereum, Solana, etc.) and network (Mainnet, Testnet)
4. **Deploy a node** — Select node type (Global Node recommended), mode (Full or Archive), cloud provider, region, name
5. **Wait for deployment** — Status changes from "Pending" to "Running" (Global Node: <1 second, Dedicated: contact support)
6. **Copy endpoint** — Click node name, copy HTTPS or WSS endpoint under "Access and credentials"
7. **Test the endpoint** — Call `curl https://YOUR_ENDPOINT -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_blockNumber","params":[],"id":1}'`

### 2. Manage node credentials

1. **Rotate credentials** (no downtime):
   - Open node, click "Rotate credentials" → "Generate new credentials"
   - Two credential sets now active (new and old)
   - Update applications to use new endpoints
   - Click "Complete rotation" → "Deactivate old credentials"
2. **View current credentials** — Click node name, see HTTPS/WSS endpoints and auth details under "Access and credentials"
3. **Switch authentication method** — Credentials include both key-based and basic auth options; use whichever fits your application

### 3. Configure access rules (Global Nodes only)

1. **Create IP rule** — Click node → "Access rules" → "Create rule" → Type: IP, Value: `203.0.113.10`
2. **Create origin rule** — Type: Origin, Value: `example.com` or `*.example.com` or `*`
3. **Activate rule** — New rules start deactivated; click rule → "Activate" to enforce
4. **Test rule** — Requests from non-allowed IPs/origins return 401 Unauthorized
5. **Remove rule** — Click rule → "Delete"

### 4. Create a multichain endpoint (one token, multiple nodes)

1. **Attach nodes** — From console, go to "Multichain API" → "Create endpoint"
2. **Select nodes** — Add Global or Dedicated Nodes from your projects
3. **Copy multichain token** — Starts with `mt_`, works on all attached nodes
4. **Use in applications** — Replace individual node tokens with multichain token in endpoint URLs
5. **Rotate multichain token** — Create new endpoint, migrate apps, delete old endpoint (can't rotate in-place)

### 5. Programmatically manage infrastructure (Platform API v2)

1. **Create API key** — Console → Settings → API keys → "Create key" → copy and store securely
2. **List projects** — `curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" https://api.chainstack.com/v2/projects/`
3. **Create project** — `POST /v2/projects/` with `{"name": "My Project", "description": "..."}`
4. **Create node** — `POST /v2/nodes/` with protocol, network, type, provider, region, configuration
5. **Retrieve node details** — `GET /v2/nodes/{node_id}/` to get endpoints and credentials
6. **Update node** — `PATCH /v2/nodes/{node_id}/` to change name or configuration
7. **Delete node** — `DELETE /v2/nodes/{node_id}/` (project must have no nodes before deletion)

### 6. Monitor and troubleshoot

1. **View request metrics** — Click node → "Metrics" tab → see requests, method calls, response codes
2. **Check node status** — Console shows "Running", "Pending", "Failed", "Maintenance"
3. **Monitor Dedicated Node performance** — Click node → "Node performance" tile shows CPU, RAM, storage, block height
4. **Download usage data** — Metrics section → hamburger menu → download CSV/JSON
5. **Diagnose connection issues** — Check endpoint URL, auth credentials, access rules, firewall, client timeout
6. **Handle rate limits** — 429 error = RPS limit hit; upgrade plan, use Unlimited add-on, or paginate requests

## Common gotchas

- **Trader Nodes deprecated Dec 1, 2026** — Migrate to Global Node now; Global Node has same latency, better reliability, instant deployment
- **Multichain token can't be rotated** — Create new endpoint, migrate apps, delete old one; leaked multichain token exposes all attached nodes
- **Access rules only on Global Nodes** — Dedicated Nodes don't support access rules; use firewall or basic auth instead
- **New access rules start deactivated** — Must explicitly activate to enforce; test before activating
- **Archive mode costs more** — Only use if you need historical data; most queries work on Full mode
- **API key shown only once** — Copy immediately after creation; can't retrieve later
- **Platform API v2 is recommended** — v1 still works but v2 has better error handling and deployment options
- **Credential rotation is permanent** — Once you deactivate old credentials, they stop working immediately; no grace period
- **Request units vary by method** — Some methods (traces, wide eth_getLogs) cost more; see request-units docs
- **WebSocket connections have size limits** — Large block pushes may hit 1009 MESSAGE_TOO_BIG; increase client max_size
- **Solana getProgramAccounts has per-program rate limits** — Limits depend on program size; filtered requests have higher limits
- **Basic auth credentials in URL are visible** — Use only over HTTPS; prefer key auth or multichain token for sensitive environments
- **Nodes must be deleted before project deletion** — Can't delete project with active nodes; delete nodes first

## Verification checklist

Before submitting work with Chainstack:

- [ ] Node status is "Running" (not "Pending", "Failed", or "Maintenance")
- [ ] Endpoint URL is correct (HTTPS or WSS, includes auth token or credentials)
- [ ] Authentication method matches application (key auth, basic auth, or multichain token)
- [ ] Access rules are activated if configured (new rules start deactivated)
- [ ] Credentials have been rotated if suspected leak
- [ ] Test endpoint with a simple RPC call (e.g., `eth_blockNumber`)
- [ ] Application timeout is sufficient (increase if getting 504 Gateway Timeout)
- [ ] Request payload is under 1 MB (split large eth_getLogs or batch fewer calls)
- [ ] Rate limits understood (check plan RPS, consider Unlimited add-on for high throughput)
- [ ] Archive mode configured if querying historical data
- [ ] Multichain token used consistently across all attached nodes
- [ ] API key stored securely (not in git, not in screenshots)
- [ ] Monitoring enabled (check metrics regularly for anomalies)

## Resources

**Comprehensive navigation**: https://docs.chainstack.com/llms.txt (compact index) or https://docs.chainstack.com/llms-full.txt (entire portal)

**Critical pages**:
1. [Platform Introduction](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/platform-introduction) — overview of Chainstack products, node types, and getting started
2. [Manage Your Node](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/manage-your-node) — view credentials, rotate, monitor metrics, delete
3. [Platform API v2 Getting Started](https://docs.chainstack.com/reference/platform-api-getting-started) — authentication, error handling, API key creation
4. [Authentication Methods](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/authentication-methods-for-different-scenarios) — key auth, basic auth, multichain tokens, x-token
5. [Access Rules](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/access-rules) — IP and origin filtering for Global Nodes
6. [Error Reference](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/error-reference) — HTTP and JSON-RPC error codes with solutions
7. [Pricing & Request Units](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/pricing-introduction) — billing model, RU calculation, quotas
8. [Global Elastic Node](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/global-elastic-node) — default node type, load balancing, Warp transactions
9. [Dedicated Node](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/dedicated-node) — custom configs, monthly billing, performance monitoring
10. [Blockchain APIs](https://docs.chainstack.com/reference/blockchain-apis) — RPC method reference for all protocols

---

> For additional documentation and navigation, see: https://docs.chainstack.com/llms.txt