Introdcution
As decentralized applications (dApps) grow in complexity, the communication layer between clients and blockchain nodes becomes increasingly important. Two communication models often compared are RPC (Remote Procedure Call) and gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call).
Both frameworks enable applications to communicate with remote systems. However, they behave very differently, especially in blockchain environments where node interactions must be fast, precise, and consistently available.
This article provides a detailed and technical comparison of rpc vs grpc, explains how each approach works, and evaluates which is better suited for blockchain dApp development. You’ll also learn why JSON-RPC remains the dominant interface for blockchains such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, and Base — and why decentralized RPC infrastructure (like dRPC) provides major performance advantages.
What Are RPC and gRPC?
RPC — Remote Procedure Call
RPC is a communication model where an application calls a function on a remote server as if it were a local function. In blockchain, JSON-RPC is the default interface used to interact with nodes.
gRPC — Google Remote Procedure Call
gRPC is a high-performance, language-agnostic RPC framework built on Protocol Buffers and HTTP/2. It’s widely used in microservices and backend infrastructure, not in blockchain node APIs.
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How RPC Works in Blockchain Environments
RPC is foundational to Web3. Nearly all EVM-compatible blockchains expose node operations through JSON-RPC, a lightweight, method-based protocol.
Where JSON-RPC Is Used
JSON-RPC is the standard interface for:
Ethereum
BNB Chain
Polygon
Avalanche
Optimism
Arbitrum
Base
Cronos, and many others
It supports method-centric operations such as:
eth_getBalance
eth_sendRawTransaction
eth_getBlockByNumber
eth_call
eth_estimateGas
Example JSON-RPC Request
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"method": "eth_blockNumber",
"params": [],
"id": 1
}
Example JSON-RPC Use in Code
const Web3 = require("web3");
const web3 = new Web3("https://lb.drpc.live/eth");
const block = await web3.eth.getBlockNumber();
console.log("Latest block:", block);
RPC’s simplicity, low latency, and native compatibility with node functions make it ideal for dApps.
How gRPC Works in Traditional Systems
gRPC is a modern RPC framework built by Google. It uses:
Protocol Buffers (protobufs) for data serialization
HTTP/2 for multiplexing and streaming
Bi-directional streaming capabilities
Strictly defined service contracts
Typical Use Cases
gRPC is commonly used in:
Internal microservices
High-performance backend communication
Real-time systems
Cloud-native service meshes (e.g., Istio, Envoy)
Advantages
Extremely fast serialization
Strongly typed contracts
Full-duplex streaming
Efficient inter-service communication
Disadvantages for Blockchain
Requires protobuf schemas
Requires a gRPC server implementation
Not natively supported by blockchain nodes
Limited tooling in Web3 developer workflows
This is why rpc vs grpc compares two very different paradigms — one native to blockchains, and one native to backend microservices.
RPC vs gRPC: Key Differences
Below is a technical comparison specifically tailored to blockchain.
For more background on how RPC compares to other API architectures, see this overview from Nordic APIs.
FEATURE
JSON-RPC (RPC)
gRPC
Primary use
Blockchain nodes
Macroservices
Transport
HTTP / Websocket
HTTP/2
Serialization
JSON
Protocol buffers
Set up complexity
Minimal
High: requires .proto files + compilation
Speed
Fast
Very fast
Streaming
Supported via websockets
Native
Ease of use
Very easy
Moderate/complex
Web3 library support
Extensive
Nearly none
Best for
dApps, wallets, explorers
Internal backend systems
The entire blockchain ecosystem is built on JSON-RPC, not gRPC. This is central to the “rpc vs grpc debate” for dApps.
Why RPC Is Better for Blockchain dApps
Native Compatibility
All blockchain nodes implement JSON-RPC. No blockchain implements gRPC natively.
This makes RPC the only interface compatible with:
Web3.js
MetaMask
WalletConnect
Hardhat / Foundry / Remix
Indexers
Faster Request–Response Cycle
Although gRPC is technically faster in raw serialization, blockchain calls involve:
Network latency
Node processing
Consensus state reads
In this context, JSON-RPC is faster because:
It maps directly to node methods
No schema compilation
No extra abstraction layers
Easier Debugging
JSON is human-readable. Protobufs are not.
For debugging smart contract interactions, JSON’s clarity matters.
Web3 Tooling
Entire Web3 infrastructure — SDKs, explorers, wallets — depends on JSON-RPC.
gRPC is rarely used outside internal enterprise blockchain tools.
Summary
When evaluating rpc vs grpc for blockchain, RPC is simply the ecosystem standard. It is faster to integrate, easier to maintain, and universally supported.
When gRPC Might Be Useful
Although gRPC is not used to interact with blockchain nodes, it has valid blockchain-related applications:
Off-Chain Microservices
dApp backends often require:
User session services
Data indexing pipelines
High-frequency internal APIs
Wallet services
Real-time analytics
gRPC excels here because of:
Low overhead
Contract clarity
Multiplexed communication
Bridges and Oracles
Some cross-chain systems use gRPC internally to communicate between components.
Layer-2 Sequencer Internals
Some rollups use gRPC between sequencer components, but they still expose JSON-RPC externally.
Why gRPC Is Less Practical for Blockchain Node Calls
No blockchain node runs a gRPC interface
No Web3 client supports gRPC
No wallet is built on top of gRPC
No ecosystem standard schema for blockchain RPC calls
Thus, gRPC remains an internal-only backend protocol, not a blockchain access layer.
A deeper analysis of RPC and gRPC in Web3 contexts is explored here.
High-Speed RPC Infrastructure for Blockchain Developers
To get the best performance for JSON-RPC calls, developers depend heavily on reliable RPC providers.
Why RPC Speed Matters in dApps
Contract calls occur every block
UIs must update instantly
Wallets need real-time feedback
Events and logs must sync efficiently
Backend processors handle thousands of requests per second
How Decentralized RPC Providers Improve Performance
dRPC uses a globally distributed, decentralized RPC provider network, giving developers:
Faster response times
Automatic failover between node operators
Multi-chain support from a single endpoint
Higher uptime than centralized RPC systems
Consistent and predictable latency
Developers can easily connect to any chain via:
FAQs
What is the difference between RPC and gRPC?
RPC is a method-based communication model used in blockchain, while gRPC is a high-performance framework used in microservices. Blockchains use JSON-RPC, not gRPC.
Is gRPC faster than JSON-RPC?
In raw serialization speed, yes. But blockchain calls involve node processing, making JSON-RPC faster and simpler for dApp development.
Why do blockchains use JSON-RPC?
JSON-RPC is lightweight, compatible with Web3 tools, human-readable, and maps directly to blockchain node methods.
Can I use gRPC for blockchain dApps?
Not for node communication. No blockchain nodes expose gRPC interfaces. gRPC is only useful for off-chain internal services.
What is the best RPC infrastructure for developers?
Decentralized RPC networks like dRPC offer speed, uptime, and reliability across multiple chains.
Take-Away
Choosing between rpc vs grpc requires understanding each protocol’s purpose. gRPC is excellent for high-performance microservices and off-chain system communication, but it is not designed for interacting directly with blockchain nodes.
JSON-RPC, on the other hand, is the native communication layer for nearly every blockchain network. It is simple, efficient, widely supported, and deeply integrated into the Web3 ecosystem.
Combining JSON-RPC with decentralized providers like dRPC ensures high-speed, low-latency, and globally reliable access to blockchain data — essential characteristics for production dApps.
