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Blockchain data provider Chainstack has introduced a hosted service for collections of Web3 data referred to as “subgraphs,” as stated in a company announcement on April 19. The service, named “Chainstack Subgraphs,” enables developers to create subgraphs and publish them for a fee.
We’re excited to announce the launch of Chainstack Subgraphs, an enterprise-grade data indexing solution designed for rapid access to #blockchain data in high-performance settings!
Read our complete announcement on #subgraphs ⬇️ 1/11 https://t.co/mM3IMaM7K7 pic.twitter.com/y0Y3oA7ZhF— Chainstack ️ (@ChainstackHQ) April 19, 2023
This announcement follows the declaration by subgraph protocol developer The Graph in June that it would discontinue its hosted service in favor of a decentralized network.
Subgraphs are application programming interfaces (APIs) that retrieve data from blockchains and organize it in specific formats. They are open-source, meaning that once a member of the community develops a subgraph, it can be utilized by anyone.
Subgraphs gained significant traction among developers following the launch of The Graph Network in 2020.
The initial version of The Graph (GRT) included certain centralized features, such as a free hosted service offered by the developer. However, The Graph team announced that it would eventually necessitate creators to transition their subgraphs to the decentralized network and would discontinue the hosted service.
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According to the announcement, Chainstack Subgraphs aims to offer a straightforward method for subgraph developers to transfer their APIs from the previous The Graph hosted service.
In a discussion with Cointelegraph, Chainstack CTO Eugene Aseev indicated that the new service will offer three primary advantages to users compared to the decentralized network. Firstly, it will provide clear pricing in fiat currency rather than the GRT token. Secondly, it will support a broader range of blockchain networks instead of a limited selection. Lastly, it will facilitate the indexing and discovery of mid-tier or small-tier subgraphs, which would be more challenging if they were submitted directly to The Graph, he noted.
Related: The Graph says adoption is still strong, two years after launch
Nonetheless, Aseev also mentioned that Chainstack does not view itself as a rival to The Graph and the GRT token, stating:
We are strong advocates of decentralization [and] We appreciate The Graph. Once we launch the service, ensure its effective operation, and onboard customers, we will also participate in The Graph network because we want to be part of this initiative.
The Graph team has advised users not to be alarmed following the announcement of the hosted service’s impending closure. The official documentation for the network indicated that “Hosted Service will not be shut down soon.” Instead, it will only be discontinued “Once we reach feature parity with the decentralized network.”
Despite this, some developers have raised concerns that not all subgraphs are accessible on the decentralized network, while others have suggested that the decentralized service may be prohibitively expensive.
Cointelegraph reached out to The Graph team for comments but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
