Shardeum Completes Integration of Ethereum-Compatible RPC Methods

We’re excited to share a major milestone in our journey towards mainnet – the successful integration of all necessary Ethereum-compatible RPC methods on Shardeum in late 2023. This comes following our initial efforts last year, starting with the implementation of RPC methods such as WSS eth_subscribe. This optimization is a crucial part of enhancing Shardeum’s functionality. It’s noteworthy to emphasize that we have introduced specialized Shardeum RPC methods. These are designed to complement the standard Ethereum RPCs, capturing the unique differences that Shardeum brings to the table promoting seamless developer experience and education of the cutting edge innovations it offers. This setup further enhances Shardeum’s smart contract platform, lowering the entry barrier not just for EVM-based developers, but for all developers in the distributed ledger/blockchain ecosystem.

Before diving into the specifics of our implementation of Ethereum-compatible RPC methods, let’s take a moment to explore why Shardeum stands out as the platform of choice for developing or migrating your dApps, especially in a landscape populated with newer L1 blockchains, modular solutions, and L2 chains.

Why Should I Build on Shardeum?

Shardeum is dedicated to enhancing layer one scalability and decentralization, choosing to prioritize these areas over reinventing key user-facing components such as the smart contract language, virtual machine and block explorer. This strategic focus is grounded in the belief that Ethereum already offers a robust suite of tools for smart contract development and dApps, complemented by developer friendly programming languages like Solidity and Vyper. By leveraging these established resources, we want to help fast-track the development processes and harness the full potential of blockchain technology. However, with the introduction of an independent smart contract platform at the protocol level, Shardeum concentrates on building a product that addresses the genuine shortcomings of Ethereum and other L1 chains – a sharded chain that auto-scales linearly to maintain high levels of scalability, decentralization and security to ensure transaction fees remain very low permanently irrespective of the demand in the network.

The icing on the cake is Shardeum’s ability to process transactions and reach consensus individually enabling atomic and cross shard composability with parallel transaction execution. This development effectively eliminate the common bottlenecks developers face with complex smart contract calls on contemporary blockchains and sharded networks aiming for high scalability. While Shardeum is naturally appealing to EVM developers as an EVM based layer 1 network, we are equally committed to welcoming those who work outside the EVM ecosystem into our fold.

The blockchain space thrives on diversity, with numerous protocols dedicated to fostering interoperability among varied blockchains. Shardeum stands out by offering a Layer 1 solution that decisively addresses the scalability trilemma, a crucial step towards enabling smooth interoperability across platforms. Our commitment extends to open-sourcing the protocol soon, to inspire and elevate the broader ecosystem. For developers looking to make a significant impact, regardless of your current platform, Shardeum offers a unique, indispensable opportunity to build on a foundation that is not just scalable but also developer friendly with a massive community of 1 Million+ community members already within 2 years of launch.

What are Ethereum JSON-RPC Methods?

Ethereum JSON-RPC methods are a set of remote procedure calls (RPC) encoded in JSON format, enabling interactions with the Ethereum network. These methods allow for the execution of a wide range of operations such as querying blockchain data, sending transactions, and tracking network changes. Essentially, they act as a bridge between external applications or clients and the Ethereum blockchain, facilitating a seamless flow of information and commands. This set of methods collectively forms an API, streamlining access and interaction with the Ethereum network for developers.

Incorporating Ethereum’s JSON-RPC methods into Shardeum marks a significant enhancement in its platform’s capabilities. These methods, ranging from eth_feeHistory to eth_chainId, are pivotal in enabling precise transaction tracking, real-time monitoring, and efficient network interaction. By adopting these methods, Shardeum not only facilitates a smoother transition for Ethereum developers but also enriches its ecosystem with advanced functionalities and broader possibilities. These methods symbolize Shardeum’s commitment to building a robust, user-centric platform, poised for innovation and collaboration in the wider Web3 space. For those unfamiliar with these methods, let’s dive in and see what each of them does!

Popular Ethereum RPC Methods

The following methods are especially popular among developers and third-party projects for extracting information from blockchain networks enabling them to create an array of valuable products and services.

• eth_feeHistory: This method retrieves a range of historical network fees which is useful for analyzing gas prices over time.
• eth_getBlockReceipts: This method provides a list of receipts for all transactions in a given block and it is helpful for transaction confirmation and status tracking.
• eth_getBlockTransactionCountByHash: This method returns the number of transactions in a block, identified by its hash, useful for block analysis.
• eth_getBlockTransactionCountByNumber: This method returns the number of transactions in a block, but identifies the block by its number instead of its hash.
• eth_getTransactionByBlockHashAndIndex: This fetches a transaction based on its block hash and index position within the block.
• eth_getTransactionByBlockNumberAndIndex: This method retrieves a transaction by its block number and index within that block.
• eth_newPendingTransactionFilter: This method creates a filter to notify about new pending transactions. It is useful for tracking transactions that are broadcast but not yet confirmed.
• eth_chainId: This returns the current chain ID of the network, an important piece of information for ensuring transaction integrity on the correct Ethereum network.

Ethereum’s RPC Methods Complements Shardeum’s Custom Requirements

Shardeum not only guarantees compatibility with Ethereum’s JSON-RPC methods above, but also strives to make sure that our existing RPC methods provide responses closely aligned with those of Ethereum. This approach ensures seamless integration for developers familiar with Ethereum, enhancing the ease of adoption and interoperability. And as mentioned, this also minimizes the amount of time developers have to spend learning, allowing for efficient transition and utilization of our platform in Ethereum-based projects.

For example, in the context of Shardeum’s implementation of the eth_feeHistory JSON-RPC method, a notable difference exists compared to Ethereum. Instead of returning the baseFeePerGas, which is a standard element in Ethereum, Shardeum provides an array of gas prices for the specified blocks. This deviation is due to Shardeum’s unique transaction structure, which does not incorporate baseFeePerGas and is impervious to MEV. The provided array of gas prices offer a historical view of transaction costs in Shardeum, enabling users to analyze and understand gas price trends over time within the network.

Another example is a notable difference one would find with our implementation of standard block-related queries such as eth_getBlockReceipts and eth_getBlockTransactionCountByHash. The difference is due to the fact that Shardeum technically has a blockless architecture. Instead of blocks, Shardeum has cycles given that the transactions are processed individually on the network, following which the processed transactions are batched together into groups or blocks at pre-determined intervals before getting transferred to the archive nodes. It is estimated that 1 cycle will be 60 seconds on Shardeum and 1 block is formed every 6 seconds.

Why Shardeum Needs Ethereum JSON-RPC Methods?

Since Shardeum technically isn’t a blockchain but also incorporates the EVM, integrating its core technologies presents unique technical challenges. However, integrating Ethereum JSON-RPC methods in Shardeum is critical for several reasons:

1. Compatibility and Familiarity

By implementing Ethereum’s RPC methods, Shardeum offers a familiar environment for developers already skilled in Ethereum’s ecosystem. This reduces the learning curve and accelerates adoption for the Ethereum based community that represents over 85% of the entire smart contract ecosystem.

2. Interoperability

Ethereum’s RPC methods are a standard in the wider developer world. Shardeum’s adoption of these methods ensures interoperability with existing tools and applications designed for Ethereum, enhancing its integration capabilities.

3. Comprehensive Functionality

Implementing a full range of RPC methods enables Shardeum to offer a more complete and robust RPC server experience. It ensures that all necessary functionalities are available for diverse interactions.

4. Customization for Shardeum’s Architecture

While Shardeum strives to match Ethereum’s RPC specifications, it also adapts or omits certain methods to fit its unique ledger structure. This customization ensures that the RPC methods align well with Shardeum’s architecture, enhancing efficiency and performance.

Benefits of Implementing Ethereum RPC Methods in Shardeum

As we embark on a comprehensive exploration of the benefits brought by the integration of Ethereum JSON-RPC methods into Shardeum, it’s crucial to understand the depth and breadth of these advantages. This deep dive will shed light on how these methods not only enhance the technical prowess of Shardeum but also significantly impacts its network, developer community, and the broader ecosystem.

1. Benefits for Shardeum Network

🧑‍Enhanced Developer Experience: A more complete RPC server with Ethereum-like methods improves the overall developer experience, making it easier and more efficient to build on Shardeum.

📈 Network Growth and Adoption: Familiarity and ease of use can attract more developers from the Ethereum ecosystem, contributing to the growth and diversity of the Shardeum network.

🏎️ Improved Performance: With a robust set of RPC methods, Shardeum can handle a wider range of queries and commands more efficiently, leading to improved network performance.

2. Benefits for Developers

🛠️ Ease of Transition: Developers experienced with Ethereum can easily transition to Shardeum, leveraging their existing knowledge and tools.

🔧 Rich Tooling and Integration: Access to a comprehensive set of RPC methods allows for the creation of sophisticated applications and seamless integration with existing Ethereum-based tools.

💡Innovative Opportunities: The unique adaptations in Shardeum’s RPC methods offer developers the chance to explore new functionalities and innovations not possible in the Ethereum network.

3. Benefits for the Community

🌱 Broader Ecosystem Development: As more developers join the Shardeum network, the ecosystem becomes richer, offering more diverse and sophisticated applications to the community.

🛡️Enhanced Network Security and Integrity: With methods like eth_chainId, Shardeum ensures secure and reliable transactions, fostering trust within the community.

📊Real-time Insights and Analytics: Methods such as eth_feeHistory and eth_getBlockReceipts provide the community with valuable insights into network activity, enhancing transparency and informed decision-making.

In conclusion, the integration of Ethereum JSON-RPC methods into Shardeum represents a strategic move towards compatibility, enhanced functionality, and broader appeal within the wider Web3 community. It lays the foundation for a vibrant ecosystem that is both innovative and accessible, benefiting the network, its developers, and the wider community.

Wrapping it Up: The Takeaway

In summary, Shardeum’s recent accomplishment in implementing the EVM RPC methods marks a pivotal advancement in our network’s evolution. It enhances our capabilities and ensures that Shardeum remains at the forefront of innovation. This update not only optimizes our system but also signifies our unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions in the wider Web3 world!

Shardians, let’s celebrate this milestone together! 🎉 Your passion and support are the keystones of Shardeum’s growing success. Here’s to many more milestones and continued advancements in our collective journey!

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