Early developers looking to build DApps had to run their own blockchain nodes, sync on-chain data, and maintain server and database systems over the long term. This approach not only carried high costs but also added complexity to application development and maintenance. As public chain ecosystems like Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Solana expanded rapidly, Web3 projects increasingly demanded stable RPC services, Real Time on-chain data, and development tools, fueling the growth of Web3 infrastructure platforms.
In the current Web3 infrastructure space, Alchemy has emerged as one of the most representative development platforms. Its services span node access, on-chain data indexing, real-time notifications, account abstraction, and smart wallets, and are widely adopted in DeFi, NFT, GameFi, and on-chain social applications.
What Is Alchemy Web3?
Alchemy Web3 is a blockchain infrastructure platform tailored for developers, offering node services, on-chain data APIs, smart wallets, and development tools to help teams build Web3 applications. Through its APIs and SDKs, developers can access networks like Ethereum, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Solana without the need to maintain their own blockchain nodes.
By offering managed infrastructure and enhanced APIs, Alchemy lowers the barrier to entry, enabling developers to focus more on product and application logic. Positioned within the Web3 infrastructure sector, Alchemy, along with platforms like Infura, QuickNode, and Chainstack, forms the "middle layer" of the blockchain ecosystem—connecting underlying blockchain networks with the application layer above.
Blockchain networks themselves handle only data consensus and trade execution. However, when building DApps, developers must also tackle data retrieval, node synchronization, real-time event monitoring, and transaction broadcasting.
If a team runs a full node directly, they will encounter the following challenges:
| Challenge |
Description |
| High node sync cost |
Ethereum full nodes involve massive amounts of data |
| Complex operations |
Ongoing maintenance of servers and databases required |
| Inefficient data reading |
Raw on-chain data is not ideal for direct queries |
| Concurrency issues |
Node load increases as DApp user base grows |
| Multi-chain compatibility difficulties |
Different chains have varying interfaces and structures |
Alchemy provides unified APIs and managed services, allowing developers to quickly access on-chain data, send transactions, and monitor events in real time, boosting development efficiency.
Alchemy's Core Products
Alchemy's product suite revolves around "node service + data API + development tools."
Supernode
Supernode is Alchemy's enhanced RPC node service, supporting networks like Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and Solana. Developers can access on-chain data and send transactions via the standard JSON-RPC interface.
NFT API
The NFT API enables reading NFT data—metadata, holdings, collection data, and transfer records. It handles NFT use cases more efficiently than traditional on-chain queries.
Transfers API
The Transfers API tracks asset transfer records for wallet addresses, supporting standards like ERC-20, ERC-721, and ERC-1155.
Webhooks
Webhooks automatically send notifications upon on-chain events—for instance, when a wallet receives assets, a transaction is confirmed, or an NFT is transferred, the system pushes data in real time.
Account Kit
Account Kit is Alchemy's development tool for account abstraction (AA), supporting smart accounts, gas sponsorship, and Embedded Wallet.
How Alchemy Web3 Works
Alchemy's workflow is essentially "User request → API service → blockchain node → data return."
When a user opens a DApp, the app typically requests on-chain data via Alchemy's API—such as wallet balances, NFT info, or transaction status. Alchemy's server then sends the request to the appropriate blockchain node and returns the processed data.
The internal process typically involves:
- User request enters the API gateway
- Request is routed to the corresponding blockchain node
- System reads raw on-chain data
- Data indexing and caching systems process the data
- API returns structured results
- DApp renders the data on the frontend
Compared to directly querying raw nodes, Alchemy preprocesses and indexes on-chain data, resulting in faster query speeds.
Blockchain Networks Supported by Alchemy
Alchemy currently supports multiple mainstream blockchains and Layer 2 networks, including:
- Ethereum
- Polygon
- Arbitrum
- Optimism
- Base
- zkSync
- Solana
- Starknet
As modular blockchains and Rollup ecosystems evolve, Alchemy has expanded its support to more Layer 2 solutions and appchains. This multi-chain architecture lets developers manage different networks via a unified interface, lowering cross-chain development complexity.
What Is the Alchemy Account Kit?
The Alchemy Account Kit is a suite of development tools for account abstraction (AA), built on the ERC-4337 standard.
Traditional wallets rely on private keys and seed phrases, while account abstraction makes wallets programmable, enabling features such as:
- Gas Sponsorship
- Social Login
- Multi-Signature
- Automated Transactions
- Payment Recovery Mechanisms
With the Account Kit, developers can build smart wallets that eliminate the need for users to understand gas fees or manage private keys, significantly improving the Web3 user experience.
Account abstraction is seen as a key driver for mass user adoption in Web3, making it a strategic priority for Alchemy.
Alchemy vs. Infura: Key Differences
Alchemy and Infura both belong to the Web3 infrastructure platform category, but they differ in product direction.
| Aspect |
Alchemy |
Infura |
| Core positioning |
Web3 development platform |
RPC node service |
| Data APIs |
Comprehensive |
Basic |
| NFT tools |
Robust support |
Limited support |
| Account abstraction |
Strong with Account Kit |
Slower to adopt |
| Development tools |
Rich SDKs and monitoring tools |
Infrastructure-centric |
| Multichain Support |
Extensive |
Primarily EVM |
Alchemy prioritizes developer experience and enhanced APIs, whereas Infura has traditionally focused on basic node services.
Alchemy: Advantages and Limitations
Alchemy's key advantages include:
- Lowers the barrier to Web3 development
- Offers stable RPC services
- Strong multi-chain compatibility
- Rich data API capabilities
- Supports the account abstraction ecosystem
However, it also has limitations:
- Centralization of Web3 infrastructure
- Heavy reliance on third-party services
- Some advanced features are subject to commercial limitations
- Infrastructure platforms can become single points of failure in the ecosystem
The Web3 industry continues to explore more decentralized infrastructure architectures, such as decentralized RPC networks and modular data layers.
Summary
Alchemy Web3 is one of the most prominent blockchain development infrastructure platforms today, offering developers node services, on-chain data APIs, account abstraction, and smart wallets. It has significantly reduced the complexity of Web3 application development and maintenance, allowing teams to build DApps more efficiently.
FAQs
Which public blockchains does Alchemy support?
Alchemy supports a range of networks, including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Solana, and zkSync.
What is an RPC node?
An RPC node is the data interface between a blockchain network and applications, enabling on-chain data reads and transaction broadcasting.
How do Alchemy and Infura differ?
Alchemy focuses on enhanced APIs and developer tools, whereas Infura is more oriented towards basic node services.
What is account abstraction (AA)?
Account abstraction is a mechanism that makes wallets programmable, enabling features like gas sponsorship, social login, and smart accounts.
Why do Web3 projects need Alchemy?
Alchemy eliminates the need for developers to maintain their own nodes and servers, cutting development costs and enhancing application stability.
