Founders of The Graph recently announced the launch of its hosted service for collections of Web3 data called “subgraphs.”
This new service called “Chainstack Subgraphs” will allow developers to create and post subgraphs for a fee.
Subgraphs are application programming interfaces (APIs) that query blockchains for data and sort it in particular ways. They are open-source, so once someone in the community creates a subgraph, it can be used by anyone.
The original developer of subgraph protocol, The Graph, announced last year that it would shut down its hosted service and move towards a decentralized network.
This change posed several challenges for developers who relied on the centralized service. Chainstack Subgraphs aims to address these challenges by providing a convenient way for subgraph developers to migrate their APIs off the old The Graph hosted service.
In a conversation with News Outlets, Chainstack CTO Eugene Aseev stated that the new service offers several benefits compared to the decentralized network.
“ Firstly, it provides transparent pricing in fiat currency instead of the GRT token. Secondly, it integrates many blockchain networks instead of just a few. Thirdly, it makes it easy for mid-tier or small-tier subgraphs to get indexed and discovered, whereas this would be more difficult if they posted directly to The Graph.“
However, Aseev clarified that Chainstack Subgraphs does not see itself as a competitor to The Graph and GRT token.
He explained that they are huge proponents of decentralization and love The Graph. Once they launch the service, make sure it works well, and onboard customers, they will also be participants of The Graph network because they also want to be part of this movement.
The Graph team has warned users not to panic after announcing that the hosted service will be sunsetted.
The official docs for the network stated that “Hosted Service will not be shut down soon.” Instead, it will only be shut down “Once we reach feature parity with the decentralized network.” Some developers have expressed concern that not all subgraphs are available on the decentralized network, while others have argued that the decentralized service may be too expensive.
The Graph gets ready for Decentralization
In conclusion, the launch of Chainstack Subgraphs is a significant development in the blockchain industry as it provides a convenient solution for subgraph developers to migrate their APIs off the old The Graph hosted service.
The new service offers several benefits compared to the decentralized network, making it easier for mid-tier or small-tier subgraphs to be indexed and discovered. This move also shows that Chainstack is not a competitor to The Graph and GRT token but rather a supporter of decentralization.
Overall, the blockchain industry continues to grow and evolve, and it will be interesting to see what new developments emerge in the future.