# What are blockchain nodes?

Blockchain technology has revolutionized the way we think about data storage and transfer, enabling the creation of decentralized networks that can securely record and transfer value and information. At the heart of every blockchain is a network of nodes that helps to maintain the integrity and security of the blockchain.

So, what are blockchain nodes? A blockchain node is a computer that participates in the operation of a blockchain network by maintaining a copy of the blockchain and validating and relaying transactions. In a blockchain network, nodes communicate with each other to reach a consensus on the state of the blockchain and the validity of transactions. When a new transaction is proposed, nodes validate it according to the rules of the blockchain network and, if it is deemed valid, add it to the blockchain.

## Advantages of using a node provider

Whether you choose to run your own node or use a node provider will depend on your needs and requirements. Running your own node can be a good option if you have the resources and technical expertise to do so, but it can also be time-consuming and require a significant investment in hardware and other resources.

Using a node provider can offer a number of advantages, including:

**1. Ease of Access**

One of the main benefits of using a node provider is the ease of access it offers. Rather than having to set up and maintain your own node, you can simply access the resources of the node provider through an API or other means. This can be particularly useful if you don't have the technical expertise or resources to run your own node.

**2. Scalability**

Another advantage of using a node provider is scalability. Node providers often have the resources and infrastructure in place to support a large number of users, making it easier for you to scale your application or interactions with the blockchain as needed.

**3. Reliability**

Finally, using a node provider can offer increased reliability. Node providers typically have the resources and expertise to maintain their nodes and ensure that they are always available and up-to-date. This can be particularly important if you are building a mission-critical application or if you need to access the blockchain on a regular basis.

# List of top 6 Web3 node providers

This article compares six different blockchain node providers based on various characteristics such as supported blockchain networks, cost, available tools, and offerings. Here’s the list of 6 best web3 node providers

1. Ankr
2. Pokt Network
3. Infura
4. Alchemy
5. QuickNode

## 1. Ankr

Ankr is the leading web3 RPC provider serving around 30 blockchain networks. Ankr handles over [7.2 billion RPC calls](https://www.ankr.com/blog/ankr-leads-the-pack-in-rpc-api-services/) daily via endpoints that are geo-distributed and benefit from efficient load balancing, ensuring fast and reliable service for developers around the world. 

Ankr [RPC](https://www.ankr.com/blog/all-about-ankrs-upgraded-rpc-platform/) includes free and public RPC endpoints, alongside new Premium and Enterprise plans packed with advanced developer tools — all powered by a globally distributed and decentralized network of nodes, making Ankr the most reliable and scalable choice for your web3 RPC needs.

Ankr also offers a suite of web3 tools such, Advanced APIs (NFT, Token and Query), gaming SDK, and appchains.

### Ankr supported blockchains

Ankr supports a high number of blockchain networks including Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Aptos, Arbitrum, BSC, BitTorrent Chain, Celo, Fantom, Filecoin, Gnosis, Harmony, Huobi ECO chain, IoTeX, Klaytn, Kausama, Moonbeam, Near, Nervos, Optimism, Polkadot, Solana, Syscoin, Tron with more coming soon.

### Ankr pricing

- **Ankr Free Public RPCs** - $0/month, instant RPC requests (1800 requests/min), no credit card required and free access for most chains with archive data
- **Ankr Premium** - Pay as you go, secure and private RPC endpoints, WebSockets, custom SLA support, defaults to 1,500 requests/sec per chain, 4,000 requests/sec for Solana and upgradeable on request

## 2. Pokt Network

Pocket Network is a decentralized infrastructure that uses economic principles to coordinate and distribute data in an efficient and cost-effective manner, even at a large scale. 

### Pokt supported blockchains

Pokt offers endpoints for over 35 blockchain networks including Avalanche, Binance Smart Chain, Boba, Ethereum, Metis and many more

### Pokt Network pricing

Pokt does not publicly disclose pricing information on their website. However, based on their support documentation, it appears that developers may be able to utilize Pokt's blockchain node support free of charge up to a certain number of requests. Once this threshold has been reached, interested parties will need to contact Pokt directly to learn more about pricing for additional requests.

## 3. Infura

Infura offers a range of APIs and services that provides reliable access to Ethereum and IPFS, and the ability to interact with smart contracts, publish and subscribe to events, and more. Infura also offers tools and resources for developers to help them build and deploy their dApps more efficiently.

### Infura supported blockchains

Infura supports Ethereum, Arbitrum, Aurora, Avalanche (C-Chain), Celo, Filecoin, IPFS, Near, Optimism, Palm, Polygon Pos and StarkNet.

### Infura pricing

- **Core Free Tier** - 100k total requests/day, including up to 25,000 archive requests/day
- **Developer Tier ($50/month)** - 200,000 total requests/day, including up to 100,000 archive requests/day, direct customer support
- **Team Tier ($225/month)** - 1,000,000 total requests/day, including up to 1,000,000 archive requests/day, direct customer support
- **Growth Tier ($225/month)** - 5,000,000 total requests/day, including up to 5,000,000 archive requests/day, direct customer support

## 4. Alchemy

Alchemy is a developer platform offering blockchain nodes, and a range of development tools, including APIs and a web3 SDK, to assist developers in building dApps and web3 projects. 

### Alchemy supported blockchains

Alchemy currently supports Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Astar, and Solana networks.

### Alchemy pricing

- **Free Tier** - Up to 300,000,000 compute units/month, includes Enhanced APIs, no daily request limits, full archive data, 24/7 discord support
- **Growth Tier** - Up to 400,000,000 compute units/month, includes parity trace and gETH debug, access to reinforced transactions, 2x higher throughput and 24/7 discord support
- **Enterprise Tier** - Custom compute units, custom SLAs, pay with crypto and 24/7 VIP support

## 5. QuickNode

QuickNode offers web3 infrastructure designed to help developers of all sizes build and scale blockchain applications. It is a popular choice among Web3 developers for its comprehensive suite of tools and resources. 

### QuickNode supported blockchains

QuickNode currently supports 15+ blockchains including Ethereum, Algorand, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BSC, and Celo and many more.

### QuickNode pricing

- **Free Tier** - 25 requests/sec, 1 endpoint, single region and community support with 10 Million API credits
- **$49/month Tier** - 100 requests/sec, 10 endpoints, multiple regions, and 24hrs support response time with 20 Million API credits
- **$299/month Tier** - 300 requests/sec, 20 endpoints, global regions, and 8-12hrs support response time with 120 Million API credits

## Choose the right one for your needs
The six web3 node providers discussed in this article offer a range of options for developers looking to build and deploy decentralized applications and web3 projects. Each provider has its own unique set of supported blockchain networks and tools, as well as different pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. It is important for developers to carefully consider their specific requirements and do their own research to determine the best provider for their needs.

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The Top 5 Blockchain Node Providers in Web3 (2023) - Ankr

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Ankr Team 

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**TL;DR**

Web3 developers have three choices when it comes to accessing the node infrastructure (blockchain connections) necessary for building and operating dApps. They can run their own nodes, pay for centralized providers like Infura, Alchemy, and AWS, *or* they can use a Web3-native infrastructure provider like Ankr. Ultimately, Web3-native infrastructure is often the best option for the following reasons:

- Running your own nodes is labor, time, and capital intensive with an additional set of technical skills needed.
- Centralized infrastructure is antithetical to Web3 and provides vulnerabilities for censorship, failure, and manipulation.
- **Decentralized infrastructure providers like Ankr offer a solution aligned with the original intent of blockchain tech.** **Developers reach a vast, increasingly decentralized network of nodes with lower latency, more reliability, and high-performance standards while incentivizing node operators, users, and communities.**

## Introduction

Blockchain developers can build new Web3 apps faster than ever, thanks to the growing availability of infrastructure that allows them to communicate with blockchains without needing to set up their own nodes. This is known as the [RPC](https://www.ankr.com/blog/what-do-infrastructure-providers-do-we-connect-the-world-to-web3/) (Remote Procedure Call) layer, which could be classified as a type of API (Application Programming Interface) that interacts with a network of nodes. These tools are vital for developers in building the dApps and open-source software that power Web3 experiences.

Setting up your own node infra can be very complicated and expensive. That’s why blockchain developers and projects seek RPC providers like Ankr to grant them hands-free access to interface with blockchains. These services allow them to make request calls to blockchains and read and write data to blockchains via the RPC extremely easily. In short, the RPC providers take the technical infra requirements out of the picture so developers can focus on creating dApps.

## Why Use Web3-Native Infrastructure for Connecting To Blockchains?

There are two options for RPC providers – centralized companies providing a purely transactional subscription-based service, or Web3-native providers such as Pokt or Ankr that have a little more stake in the game (literally). **The difference lies largely in dedication to the Web3 community.** Ankr provides:

- Open-source tools
- Public goods
- Engineering support
- In-depth partnerships with foundations

Put simply, Ankr offers solutions that are created by web3 developers, for web3 developers because we are committed to growing the industry as a whole according to its most important principle – decentralization.


### The Tech Is Customized for Blockchain

Most Web3 infrastructure providers use AWS data centers exclusively to house their nodes. Web2 cloud and database technology often falls short when attempting to deliver quality blockchain RPC/API services. The requirements of decentralized systems are much better served by infrastructure that has been customized and built specifically to serve unique demands. Using AWS also limits the global distribution of nodes and leads to higher latencies.

On the other hand, Ankr has spent years building our server/node infrastructure from the ground up, customizing it specifically for the demands of Web3 for [better performance](https://www.ankr.com/blog/ankr-leads-the-pack-in-rpc-api-services/):

**Other providers**

- Provide a cloud-based service using AWS
- Constrained to AWS data center locations
- Complexities of Web3 tech bog down servers with traditional data validity requirements

**Ankr**

- Serves requests from a high-performance blend of bare-metal and cloud servers globally
- In more global data centers in more locations than any provider
- Runs nodes on custom servers optimized for blockchain & our tailor-made software

[![rpc-remote-rpocedure-call-cta.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/rpc_remote_rpocedure_call_cta_1dbc572856.png)](https://www.ankr.com/remote-procedure-call/)

### Avoid a Web2 Model for Web3 Systems

The internet, as we’ve known it for some time, relies largely on massive service providers to offer the computing infrastructure to run the web and cloud-based operations housed in huge data centers. In order for the internet to work, we need to pay these goliaths their dues. But do we want Web3 to operate the same way?

We all want Web3 to be as accessible as possible, so we want fewer paywalls and barriers to entry when it comes to interfacing with node infrastructure. Centralized providers don’t price their services for the communities — they do it to secure as much profit as they can. Alternatively, with Ankr's pay-as-you-go plans, builders only pay for what they use with affordable developer-first pricing. 

### Enhance Privacy & Autonomy

Purely centralized providers have more risk of directly or indirectly barring users from dApps that use their infrastructure based on location, government sanctions, or other factors, as we’ve seen in the past year. Having Ankr as a more decentralized provider means less exposure to these risks while collecting less information about your usage history. Use our [RPC endpoints](https://www.ankr.com/rpc/) to give your wallet or dApp a connection to blockchains that is more private and secure:

- Ankr stores no PII or have a method to correlate wallet transactions to IP addresses
- Ankr never uses our RPC to front-run transactions (MEV exploitation on your transactions)
- We continue to decentralize the RPC as much as possible while preserving quality service

Use our endpoints to customize your MetaMask RPC: **[See step-by-step instructions](https://twitter.com/ankr/status/1597561171216777219)**

### Eliminate Single Points of Failure

Consider the following potential situation with a mainly centralized platform that relies on centralized infrastructure to interface with blockchains.

**The Ripple Effect**

- AWS experiences a widespread outage.
- A centralized provider with AWS-based nodes goes down.
- OpenSea's services are now disrupted or unavailable as they rely on the provider.
- Twitter's NFT functionality is unavailable since it relies on OpenSea's NFT API.
- NFTs are difficult to verify, resulting in a breakdown in the UX and usability of non-fungible assets.

Alternatively, what if OpenSea's platform relied on a more decentralized infrastructure? The above scenario would have a much more favorable outcome: one cluster of independent nodes goes down, Ankr's load balancer immediately transfers the traffic to other unaffected nodes in other regions, OpenSea's NFT services remain operational, and Twitter's NFT functionality remains fully functioning.

## Final Thoughts

We have an opportunity to build a new layer of the web that provides autonomy, privacy, censorship-resistance, and self-governance without a need for companies over-capitalizing on its use. Decentralized infrastructure is the missing puzzle piece that allows us to build, transact, communicate, and earn rewards on the future web independently and scalably.

[![rpc-remote-rpocedure-call-cta.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/rpc_remote_rpocedure_call_cta_1dbc572856.png)](https://www.ankr.com/remote-procedure-call/)

## Join the Conversation On Ankr’s Channels

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ankr) | [Telegram Announcements](https://t.me/anrknetworkann) | [Telegram English Chat](https://t.me/ankrnetwork) | [Help Desk](https://ankrnetwork.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/10) | [Discord](https://discord.gg/e4n8mAejGb) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErrNjCg6raOsq5MQ9fpIig) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ankr/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ankr) | [Ankr Staking](https://eth2.ankr.com/)

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2023: The Year of DeFi & Web3-Native Infrastructure

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Kevin is a business writer, journalist, and avid explorer of the blockchain and tech industry. His work has been covered across crypto and traditional media as Ankr’s Senior Writer, with topics spanning the big picture of “Web3,” tech breakthroughs, and how blockchain is changing our digital lives. Working with some of blockchain’s most talented engineers daily, Kevin gains unique insight into what advances we can expect next and the implications they hold for us all.

Technical Writer

Kevin Dwyer

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**Ankr provides the best blockchain RPC/API free tier with ungated community access, open-source developer tools, and connections that scale with you.**

Ankr’s Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services give developers the best blockchain connection experience possible — no matter if they are at a hackathon and need a quick Ethereum RPC endpoint or need to power their dApp with 100k users! Ankr provides a fast, reliable, and affordable connection to the blockchain of their choice.

**👉 [Get Instant Access to Dozens of Blockchains](https://www.ankr.com/rpc/)**

## Build With the Best Free Tier in the Industry

With Ankr’s Public RPC service, you get instant, ungated access to use our RPC endpoints for dozens of the most popular Proof-of-Stake blockchains. Our free tier provides more accessibility for new developers who just want to **get building and skip the B.S**.

**[Copy and paste endpoints now](https://www.ankr.com/rpc/)**

![rpc_pic_96b7b9a48e.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/rpc_pic_96b7b9a48e_109b4488ba.png)

## Switch Your MetaMask To Ankr’s Custom RPC for More Privacy

Use our public RPC endpoints to give your wallet a connection to blockchains that is more private and secure:

- Ankr stores no PII or have a method to correlate wallet transactions to IP addresses
- Ankr never uses our RPC to front-run transactions (MEV exploitation on your transactions)
- We continue to decentralize the RPC as much as possible while preserving quality service

**[See step-by-step instructions](https://twitter.com/ankr/status/1597561171216777219)**

![Screenshot_2022_12_20_154640_def03b781a.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2022_12_20_154640_def03b781a_cec2c5b131.png)

## Ankr’s Web3 Developer Tools: Public Goods for Everyone

Ankr will never stop providing tools that make it easier for you to build on Web3. Our job is to streamline and simplify dApp development wherever possible.

**Connection Code Snippets:** Use our integration assistant located below most endpoints to perform real-time tests to make the building process easier for a variety of programming languages.

![code_snippet_c644518631.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/code_snippet_c644518631_8b265ab639.png)

**Ankr.js & Advanced APIs:**  [Ankr.js](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ankr.com/ankr.js) is a compact JS library that lets you easily interact with Ankr’s [Advanced APIs](https://www.ankr.com/advanced-api/) that let you query cached data for token info, NFT data, addresses, and more across several chains simultaneously.

**Software Development Kits:** Our [Web3 Gaming SDK](https://www.ankr.com/gaming/) makes it easy to make any game a Web3 game. And our [Staking SDK](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ankr.com/staking-sdk) makes it easy to give your dApp instant staking capabilities.

**Multi-chain Block Explorer:** [Ankr Scan](https://ankrscan.io/) was made for you to search for data across several different blockchains at once. Try it now by searching for your wallet address!

## 1,000 Requests today, 8m Tomorrow: RPC Tiers That Scale With You

Ankr’s RPC service plans are designed to scale with you from zero users to any amount of traffic you could dream of on your dApp. You can start with a free community plan, then switch to Premium once you scale to around 1M daily requests, while our Pay-As-You-Go model ensures you never overpay for a subscription for services.

**[Check out our Premium Plans](https://www.ankr.com/rpc/pricing/)**

## Brilliance In the Basics: Speed, Reliability, Global Distribution

Ankr checks all the boxes when it comes to Web3 infrastructure. See why Ankr is leading the pack in all aspects developers care about when it comes to their RPC connections: speed, reliability, affordability, supported blockchains, user experience (UX), distribution, and decentralization. 👇

**[Ankr Leads the Pack In Blockchain RPC/API Services: A Year of Outstanding Performance](https://www.ankr.com/blog/ankr-leads-the-pack-in-rpc-api-services/)**

## Join the Conversation on Ankr’s Channels

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ankr) | [Telegram Announcements](https://t.me/anrknetworkann) | [Telegram English Chat](https://t.me/ankrnetwork) | [Help Desk](https://ankrnetwork.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/10) | [Discord](https://discord.gg/e4n8mAejGb) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErrNjCg6raOsq5MQ9fpIig) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ankr/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ankr) | [Ankr Staking](https://eth2.ankr.com/)

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Ankr’s Public RPCs: Instant Connections to Dozens of Chains

## An odyssey of data and frustration of a developer

Ah, the joys of querying Web3. It's like going on a grand adventure, where you're not quite sure what you're looking for or where you're going to find it. You might start out with a simple query, something like "How many transactions were processed on the Ethereum network yesterday?" But before you know it, you're down the rabbit hole of complex data structures, arcane technical jargon, and seemingly endless frustration.

The first challenge you'll face is figuring out how to actually query the data you're looking for. Once you've finally figured out which method to use, you'll need to start dealing with all of the technical details. You'll need to figure out which Ethereum node to connect to, what the correct block number or transaction hash is, and how to format your query in a way that the node will understand. 

And even then, there's no guarantee that you'll get the data you're looking for. The Ethereum network is notoriously unreliable, and you might find yourself getting error messages or incomplete results.

But even if you manage to get your query working, you're not out of the woods yet. Just because you have the data doesn’t mean it’s usable yet. It's like trying to solve a puzzle with only half the pieces.

## The challenges of Web3 data querying

Web3 data querying is a hot topic among developers, with many of them struggling to find the best way to access the vast amounts of data on the decentralized web. This has led to a rise in the use of APIs, which provide a simple and effective way for developers to query data on the blockchain.

One of the biggest challenges faced by developers when it comes to querying is the sheer amount of data that is available. With millions of transactions and blocks being added to the blockchain every day, it can be difficult for developers to know where to start when it comes to accessing this data.

Another challenge is the complexity of the data structures. Unlike traditional databases, which are organized in a simple, hierarchical manner, adding cross-chain functionality can be a complex task, as data does not flow easily between different blockchain networks. This added layer of complexity can make it more challenging to integrate and utilize multiple blockchains in a single system

## The state of API development

In response to these challenges, many developers have turned to APIs, or application programming interfaces, to help them access data on the decentralized web. APIs provide a way for different software systems to communicate with each other and share data and functionality, making it easier for developers to build complex interconnected applications.

There are several different types of APIs available, each designed to serve a specific purpose. Some APIs allow developers to query data directly from the blockchain, while others provide access to third-party data sources, such as exchanges or other decentralized applications.

## The Data Layer for Web3 dapps

Web3 dapps are applications built on top of the blockchain and use smart contracts and other decentralized technologies to provide a wide range of services and functionality.

However, building and running a Web3 dapp is not as simple as building a traditional web application. Unlike traditional web apps, which can easily access data from centralized databases, Web3 dapps must rely on the blockchain for their data needs. 

That's where APIs come in. APIs provide a simple and standardized way for Web3 dapps to access data on the blockchain, allowing developers to query data and interact with smart contracts in a consistent and predictable way. In this sense, APIs can be thought of as the data layer for Web3 dapps, providing a common interface that can be used by any dapp, regardless of its specific requirements or underlying technology. 

## Build with Ankr Advanced APIs

Ankr offers advanced APIs that make it easy for developers to build and ship powerful dapps. These APIs provide a wide range of tools and features, including support for NFTs, tokens, and data querying. This allows developers to build complex and feature-rich dapps, without the toiling of setting up complex RPC calls, that provide value to users and take advantage of the full potential of the web3 data.

### NFT API

One of the most popular Ankr APIs is the NFT API, which allows developers to access and query data related to non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. NFTs are unique digital assets, such as artwork or collectibles, that are built on top of the blockchain. They are often used in Web3 dapps to represent virtual items or assets and can be traded and exchanged on decentralized exchanges.

![Untitled_c5de8a2d9b.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Untitled_c5de8a2d9b_70945b2085.png)


The NFT API offered by Ankr provides developers with a simple and standardized way to access and query data related to NFTs. With the NFT API, developers can easily retrieve information about specific NFTs, such as their metadata, ownership, and transaction history. They can also use the API to display and manage NFTs within their NFT galleries, wallets and marketplace dapps, providing their users with a seamless and secure way to interact with these unique digital assets.

### Token API

Another important API offered by Ankr is the Token API, which provides developers with access to data related to tokens. Tokens are digital assets that can be traded and exchanged on the blockchain and are often used to represent a variety of different assets, such as cryptocurrencies, utility tokens, and stablecoins. The Token API allows developers to query data related to tokens, such as their token holders, prices, and account balances. 

![73f520e7_10c4_4ec7_b196_b2d778bbfb5b_0473217688.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/73f520e7_10c4_4ec7_b196_b2d778bbfb5b_0473217688_16ac321f42.png)

### Query API

With the Query API, developers can easily retrieve information about transactions, blocks,  and logs, making it easier to build applications that rely on this data. Additionally, Query API offers developers a simple and standardized way to access data from multiple blockchains, without having to worry about the complexities and differences of each individual chain.

![dfa3f0a2_c9c8_482a_a5b3_02b2c106045a_daf7b7f6fe.png](https://s3-frontend-strapi.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dfa3f0a2_c9c8_482a_a5b3_02b2c106045a_daf7b7f6fe_81f237eb90.png)

## Conclusion

With ANKR's advanced APIs, developers can take advantage of a range of features and capabilities, including no-node maintenance and cross-chain interoperability. These APIs are designed to be easy to use and integrate, making it possible for developers of all skill levels to get started building with blockchain.

From real-time data feeds to advanced analytics and reporting, Ankr's APIs provide a comprehensive suite of tools for building next-generation blockchain-based applications.

Start building now with [Ankr Advanced APIs](https://www.ankr.com/advanced-api/).

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Web3 Data Challenges and the State of APIs

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Krinza Momin

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After restoring security and responding to the events of the Dec. 1st exploit of our aBNBc token, Ankr has carefully reviewed the facts and taken steps to prevent any attacks like it in the future. Regardless of any damage done, we are proud of how the team handled the situation at every turn and did right by taking care of our community.

**After the hack Ankr immediately:**

- Restored security and worked with DEXs to halt trading
- Formed and executed a thorough recovery plan for the community
- Identified the exploiter (currently working with law enforcement to take appropriate legal action)

## Who Caused The Exploit?

A former team member (who is no longer with Ankr) acted maliciously to conduct a combination of a social engineering and supply chain attack, inserting a malicious code package that was able to compromise our private key once a legitimate update was made. We are in the process of working with law enforcement to prosecute the former team member and bring them to justice. Unfortunately, internal bad actors can affect any protocol and we are working on shoring up internal HR processes and safety measures to strengthen our security posture going forward.

## How Did We Respond?

### Immediate Action Taken To Halt the Attack

Right away, Ankr took several actions to minimize any damage from the exploit:

- Communicated the exploit to the public and executed plans to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
- Alerted known off-ramps to implement their emergency plans and halt trading
- Secured the smart contracts with a new key, preventing any further tampering.
- Updated smart contracts and systems to temporarily pause the movement of the underlying collateral (BNB) within our [liquid staking](https://www.ankr.com/blog/liquid-staking-a-comprehensive-guide/) product to be safe.

### Formed a Recovery Plan

Ankr took several measures to start compensating users to the full extent of the losses they incurred as a result of the exploit. **The team used our own Advanced API Tool to find every aBNBc token holder in 10 seconds – a task that would have taken several hours to complete using normal query methods on a dedicated node.**

- Took a snapshot to identify affected users
- Created a new ankrBNB token
- Airdropped the token to affected holders
- Determined reimbursement plan for most impacted users

### Reimbursed Our Community

Ankr is a Web3-native organization with an extremely strong community. To uphold this reputation, we needed to do the right thing and reimburse all token holders who were affected.

- Fixed damage to Helio (aBNBc borrowing platform) by re-stabilizing HAY Price. We will continue purchasing HAY if the token remains unpegged until all funds are spent.
- Airdropped ankrBNB to the affected aBNBc or aBNBb token holders
- Airdropped BNB to all affected DeFi liquidity providers
- Reached an agreement to reimburse Wombat stkBNB LPs and planned to provide 100% coverage of the BNB Wombat LPs.

**See [more details](https://www.ankr.com/blog/ankr-makes-progress-with-recovery-program-targets-and-milestones/) on our recovery plan.**

## What Are We Improving?

Ankr is now implementing several improvements to our security posture. Here are a few notable reinforcements:

**Requiring Multi-sig Authentication & Timelocks for All Updates**

The exploit was possible partly because there was a single point of failure in our developer key. We will now implement multi-sig authentication for updates that will require signoff from all key custodians during time-restricted intervals, making a future attack of this type extremely difficult if not impossible. These features will improve security for the new ankrBNB contract and all Ankr tokens.

**Revamping internal security measures**

Ankr will now require escalated background checks for all employees (including all contractors and remote workers) while taking extra measures to verify the current status of those currently working at Ankr. We are also reviewing access rights and taking extra steps to minimize entry to any sensitive systems.

**Implementing new monitoring & notification systems**

The team was able to catch the attack extremely quickly, but we can always work on improving our response time. We are implementing new notifications systems to alert key personnel so they can be online faster during any time of day.

**Refining procedures for working with DeFi protocols**

Now that we’ve been through the experience of working with teams from other protocols after an incident, we can improve the process with precedent set for responding with international teams in streamlined communication channels.

## More Updates To Come

**We want to thank the community for your ongoing support during this time!**

We are still working on ensuring all loose ends are tied up and all affected users we identified have been reimbursed. Our goal is to resolve every inquiry that has stemmed from the exploit and this will take time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

## Stay Updated On Ankr’s Channels

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ankr) | [Telegram Announcements](https://t.me/anrknetworkann) | [Telegram English Chat](https://t.me/ankrnetwork) | [Help Desk](https://ankrnetwork.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/10) | [Discord](https://discord.gg/e4n8mAejGb) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErrNjCg6raOsq5MQ9fpIig) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ankr/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ankr)

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After Action Report: Our Findings From the aBNBc Token Exploit

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