Ankr
ANKRWeb3 infrastructure provider offering RPC services and liquid staking
Technology Stack
Introduction to Ankr
Ankr provides essential Web3 infrastructure, including RPC (Remote Procedure Call) services that allow applications to communicate with blockchains. When a wallet checks a balance or a dApp executes a transaction, it typically goes through an RPC provider—and Ankr is one of the largest, serving billions of requests daily.
Beyond RPC, Ankr offers liquid staking services, developer tools, and node infrastructure. This comprehensive approach to Web3 infrastructure positions Ankr as a one-stop shop for builders needing blockchain connectivity and staking services.
How Ankr Works
RPC Services
Blockchain access:
- Connect apps to chains
- Query blockchain data
- Submit transactions
- Multiple chains supported
Infrastructure Network
Node provision:
- Distributed node network
- Global coverage
- High availability
- Load balancing
Developer Tools
Building support:
- APIs and SDKs
- Documentation
- Monitoring tools
- Integration support
Technical Specifications
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Chains Supported | 45+ |
| Daily Requests | Billions |
| Services | RPC, Staking, AppChains |
| Token | ANKR |
The ANKR Token
Utility
ANKR serves multiple purposes:
- Payment: Service fees
- Staking: Network participation
- Governance: Protocol decisions
- Premium Access: Enhanced services
Tokenomics
Economic model:
- Service payments
- Staking rewards
- Node incentives
- Ecosystem development
Premium Tiers
Service levels:
- Free tier (rate limited)
- Premium tier (higher limits)
- Enterprise (custom)
- Token-based benefits
RPC Services Deep Dive
Why RPC Matters
Infrastructure importance:
- Every dApp needs RPC
- Every wallet needs RPC
- Transaction submission
- Data queries
Ankr’s Approach
Service design:
- Multi-chain coverage
- Geographic distribution
- High reliability
- Competitive pricing
Supported Chains
Network coverage:
- Ethereum and L2s
- BNB Chain
- Polygon
- Solana
- Many others
Liquid Staking
Ankr Staking
LST products:
- ankrETH
- ankrBNB
- ankrMATIC
- Other chains
How It Works
Staking mechanism:
- Deposit native token
- Receive liquid token
- Earn staking rewards
- Maintain liquidity
DeFi Integration
Composability:
- Use in DeFi protocols
- Lending collateral
- Liquidity provision
- Yield strategies
AppChains
Custom Blockchains
Development service:
- Build custom chains
- Technical support
- Infrastructure provision
- Managed services
Target Customers
Business segments:
- Gaming companies
- Enterprise
- DeFi protocols
- Custom applications
Competition and Positioning
vs. Other RPC Providers
| Provider | Focus | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Ankr | Multi-service | Freemium |
| Infura | Enterprise | Premium |
| Alchemy | Developer tools | Freemium |
| QuickNode | Performance | Premium |
Ankr Differentiation
Key advantages:
- Comprehensive services
- Competitive pricing
- Token integration
- Staking products
Enterprise Services
Business Offerings
Enterprise features:
- Custom SLAs
- Dedicated nodes
- Priority support
- Compliance tools
Partnerships
Business relationships:
- Protocol integrations
- Exchange partnerships
- Enterprise clients
- Ecosystem projects
Network Architecture
Distributed Nodes
Infrastructure design:
- Global distribution
- Redundancy
- Load balancing
- Failover systems
Decentralization
Node network:
- Independent operators
- Token incentives
- Diverse providers
- Resilience
Challenges and Criticism
Competition
Market dynamics:
- Many RPC providers
- Price competition
- Feature parity
- Developer preferences
Centralization Concerns
Infrastructure questions:
- Concentration risks
- Point of failure
- Dependency
- Decentralization trade-offs
Market Position
Growth challenges:
- Alchemy dominant in mind share
- Enterprise market competitive
- Differentiation difficulty
- Commodity pressures
Recent Developments
Product Updates
Platform progress:
- New chain support
- Feature additions
- Performance improvements
- Staking expansions
Growth Metrics
Business progress:
- Request volume
- Customer growth
- Partnership announcements
- Revenue growth
Future Roadmap
Development priorities:
- Coverage: More chains
- Performance: Improved reliability
- Products: New services
- Enterprise: Business growth
- Staking: LST expansion
Conclusion
Ankr provides essential plumbing for Web3—the RPC services that connect applications to blockchains. This infrastructure role, while less glamorous than consumer applications, is fundamental to the ecosystem’s operation.
The combination of RPC services with liquid staking creates a broader value proposition than pure infrastructure plays. However, the RPC market is competitive and somewhat commoditized, with differentiation challenging.
For developers needing reliable multi-chain RPC access and for users seeking liquid staking options, Ankr offers comprehensive services—though the market’s competitive nature means alternatives are plentiful.