🇸🇦 العربية 🇩🇪 Deutsch 🇬🇷 Ελληνικά 🇺🇸 English 🇪🇸 Español 🇫🇮 Suomi 🇫🇷 Français 🇮🇳 हिन्दी 🇮🇹 Italiano 🇯🇵 日本語 🇰🇷 한국어 🇳🇱 Nederlands 🇳🇴 Norsk 🇵🇱 Polski 🇧🇷 Português 🇷🇺 Русский 🇸🇪 Svenska 🇵🇭 Filipino 🇹🇷 Türkçe 🇻🇳 Tiếng Việt 🇨🇳 中文

What Is The Graph?

The Graph is a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying data from blockchains. Launched on mainnet in December 2020, The Graph makes blockchain data easily accessible for application developers through an open API layer. It is often described as the "Google of blockchains" because it organizes and indexes on-chain data so it can be efficiently searched and retrieved.

Blockchains store data across thousands of nodes, but querying this raw data directly is slow and complex. Smart contract events, transaction histories, and token balances are not natively organized in ways that applications can easily consume. The Graph solves this by allowing developers to define "subgraphs" — open APIs that specify which blockchain data to index, how to transform it, and how to serve it to applications.

The network operates through several participant roles:

  • Indexers: Node operators who stake GRT and earn fees for indexing subgraphs and serving queries. They run Graph Nodes that process blockchain data and respond to API requests.
  • Curators: Community members who signal which subgraphs are valuable by staking GRT on them. This helps Indexers know which subgraphs to prioritize.
  • Delegators: GRT holders who delegate their tokens to Indexers to earn a portion of query fees and indexing rewards without running infrastructure themselves.
  • Subgraph developers: Developers who create and publish subgraphs that define how to index specific smart contract data.

The Graph supports indexing data from Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Avalanche, Celo, BNB Chain, and many other networks. Major DeFi protocols including Uniswap, Aave, Compound, Synthetix, and many others rely on The Graph for their data infrastructure. Thousands of subgraphs serve billions of queries monthly.

GRT is the native token that coordinates the network's economic incentives. Indexers stake GRT as collateral (and can be slashed for misbehavior), Curators stake GRT to signal valuable subgraphs, and query fees are paid in GRT. The token aligns incentives so that participants are rewarded for providing reliable, accurate data indexing services.

Getting Started With The Graph

There are several ways to participate in The Graph:

  1. As a Delegator: The simplest way to participate. Purchase GRT, delegate to an Indexer through The Graph Explorer, and earn a share of query fees and rewards.
  2. As a developer: Build and publish subgraphs using The Graph's tooling to index blockchain data for your application.
  3. As an Indexer: Run Graph Node infrastructure to index subgraphs and serve queries (requires technical expertise and significant GRT stake).
  4. As a Curator: Signal valuable subgraphs by staking GRT on them.

How to Get a Graph Wallet?

GRT is an ERC-20 token that can be stored in any Ethereum-compatible wallet:

MetaMask

MetaMask is the most commonly used wallet for holding GRT and interacting with The Graph Explorer for delegation and curation. Available as a browser extension and mobile app.

Hardware Wallets

Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets support GRT. Connect through MetaMask to delegate tokens or participate in the network securely.

Other Wallets

Any wallet supporting ERC-20 tokens works for holding GRT, including Coinbase Wallet and Trust Wallet.

The Graph Resources

How to Buy GRT?

GRT is widely available:

Centralized Exchanges

GRT can be purchased on Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, OKX, and most other major exchanges with fiat or crypto trading pairs.

Decentralized Exchanges

GRT can be purchased on Uniswap and other DEXs by swapping ETH or other ERC-20 tokens.

After purchasing, consider delegating GRT to Indexers through The Graph Explorer to earn protocol rewards.

Latest Graph News

The Graph continues to expand as essential blockchain data infrastructure, with growing query volumes, new network integrations, and increasing decentralization of the indexing layer. The migration from the hosted service to the decentralized network has driven significant growth in on-chain activity and GRT usage.