Blockchain RPC Provider Research

Overview

This skill provides a systematic, empirically-validated workflow for researching blockchain RPC providers before committing to large-scale data collection projects. Use when selecting an RPC provider for historical blockchain data backfill, evaluating rate limits, comparing free tier options, or estimating collection timelines.

Key principle: Never trust documented rate limits—always validate empirically with POC testing.

Investigation Workflow

This skill follows a 5-step workflow. Each step builds on the previous:

1. Research Official Documentation - Survey provider docs, pricing, archive access
2. Calculate Theoretical Timeline - Compute expected collection time from documented limits
3. Empirical Validation with POC Testing - Test actual rate limits (CRITICAL STEP)
4. Create Comparison Matrix - Build side-by-side provider comparison
5. Document Findings and Make Recommendation - Write comprehensive analysis report

Detailed workflow: See references/workflow-steps.md for complete step-by-step guide with code examples, questions to answer, and success criteria.