Constantine Zaitsev, CEO of DRPC, believes multichain solutions are a temporary fix and future advancements like modular blockchains hold promise for a more streamlined approach to blockchain scalability and specialization.
Preparing for the Modular Blockchain Era
Multichain solutions may not be the blockchain industry’s long-term answer, despite effectively addressing current scalability and specialization limitations, according to Constantine Zaitsev, CEO of DRPC. Zaitsev believes upcoming advancements like modular blockchains, Layer-0 protocols, and quantum-resistant networks could offer a more streamlined approach.
In written responses shared with Bitcoin.com News, Zaitsev, an angel investor for Web3 startups, said platforms like his are using these solutions to bridge the gap between chains and prepare for these future innovations.
Turning to optimistic rollups (OPs), Zaitsev acknowledged that while they have the potential to improve scalability and reduce costs on Layer 1 blockchains, their adoption has fallen short of expectations. He cited complex integration, limited tooling, and concerns about decentralization as factors hindering adoption. The CEO also called on industry participants to improve interoperability, enhance data solutions, and provide better infrastructure support to accelerate OP adoption.
Regarding remote procedure calls (RPCs), Zaitsev said their role in simplifying blockchain interaction has revolutionized decentralized application (dapp) development. Zaitsev also touched on how their growing importance in Web3 raises potential regulatory concerns. Below the CEO’s answers to all the questions sent.
Bitcoin.com News (BCN): The individual limitations of most blockchains have led builders to leverage the strengths of more than one chain to achieve greater flexibility, scalability, and interoperability. Considering the current state of the blockchain industry and the extent of challenges faced, what can you say about Web3 infrastructure scalability, how it looks now, and whether it’s sufficient for building solutions for the mainstream?
Constantine Zaitcev (CZ): Web3 infrastructure has made notable progress in scalability, but it still struggles to meet the demands of mainstream adoption. High transaction costs, latency issues, and the fragmented nature of blockchain networks continue to pose significant challenges, even with advancements like Layer-2 solutions, sharding, and alternative chains.
Providing an omnichain data infrastructure that enhances interoperability, reduces bottlenecks, and optimizes resource allocation across ecosystems addresses scalability. It also aligns with Web3’s ethos by preserving decentralization while delivering the performance and reliability needed for mass-market adoption.
BCN: As highlighted, the current blockchain industry’s reality involves using a multichain approach to achieve robust and efficient solutions. Do you see this as a permanent solution to blockchain technology’s limitations or would there be more fundamental variations in the future?
CZ: The multichain approach is an effective workaround for blockchain scalability and specialization issues, allowing developers to optimize for performance and cost by leveraging different chains for specific tasks. However, from a data infrastructure perspective, it’s likely a stepping stone rather than a permanent fix. Future innovations like modular architectures, unified Layer-0 protocols, and quantum-resistant networks could simplify or even replace multichain setups.
For now, providers like dRPC.org focus on enabling seamless interoperability and efficient data routing across chains while staying adaptable to these emerging paradigms. This ensures we meet current needs and are ready for what’s next.
BCN: Blockchain rollups arrived on the scene with so much zest and enthusiasm, leading many blockchain analysts to believe it could go a long way in solving the perennial problems facing the industry. Unfortunately, the story appears a bit different, with the technology’s low adoption level. In your opinion, have blockchain rollups failed to meet the expectations of the industry? If yes, what could be the reason behind it? Otherwise, what is your opinion about blockchain rollup adoption?
CZ: Blockchain rollups haven’t failed but are experiencing slower adoption than expected due to several factors. While rollups, like Optimistic Rollups and zk-rollups, have demonstrated their potential to significantly reduce costs and improve scalability on Layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum, adoption hurdles remain. These include the complexity of integration for developers, limited user-friendly tooling, and relatively low awareness among end-users.
Additionally, the ecosystem is still maturing, with concerns about decentralization, security, and high bridging costs slowing down their widespread use. From our perspective, rollups hold promise, and their adoption can be accelerated by improving interoperability, providing robust data solutions, and offering infrastructure support that reduces friction for both developers and users. They’re a work in progress, not a failure. We’ve seen it in our collaboration with Gelato’s roll-up as a service (RaaS) platform, where we’ve been the main RPC service provider.
BCN: Developers are increasingly replacing self-hosted blockchain nodes with RPC endpoints. On the surface, analysts assume that many decentralized applications (dapps) adopt this model to make their development processes more flexible and resource-optimized. From your perspective, why RPC is rapidly becoming the go-to protocol for dapps developers. Can you explain why?
CZ: RPC has become a go-to protocol for dApp developers because it streamlines the development process by offloading the complexity of running blockchain nodes. If you’re building a multichain dApp, running nodes for each chain is just impractical—it’s a huge drain on resources and time. With RPC endpoints, developers can easily access data from multiple blockchains without the hassle of managing different nodes. Plus, the ability to automate and tweak resource allocation through a user-friendly UI makes it easier to optimize performance, especially during high traffic. It’s a no-brainer for developers looking to scale efficiently and keep their focus on building great dApps.
BCN: Could you also discuss briefly about the transparency in the RPC market, focusing on the existence of gray zones with potential hidden fees?
CZ: Transparency in the RPC market remains a critical concern, as gray zones like hidden fees, opaque pricing models, and undisclosed data practices erode trust and hinder ecosystem growth. Many providers fail to offer clear cost breakdowns, leading developers to face unpredictable expenses, especially as their applications scale. We address this by championing transparent, usage-based pricing and providing clear insights into performance metrics and costs. This ensures developers can build with confidence, fostering a fairer, more reliable RPC market that aligns with Web3’s foundational principles of openness and accountability.
BCN: RPC is a relatively new concept in blockchain development, leaving one to wonder if there are any potential regulatory challenges implementing it could attract. Do you foresee regulators gaining interest in scrutinizing RPC integration into blockchain systems?
CZ: RPC is far from a new concept—it has been a cornerstone of distributed computing for decades and is fundamental to blockchain systems today. However, its increasing prominence in Web3 infrastructure could draw regulatory attention due to its role in handling sensitive transaction data and influencing blockchain accessibility. Concerns might arise around data privacy, compliance with regulations like GDPR, or potential centralization risks if the RPC market consolidates.
Nonetheless, providers like dRPC.org proactively address these challenges by decentralizing infrastructure, ensuring transparent data practices, and aligning with global regulatory standards, mitigating risks while fostering responsible RPC integration in blockchain ecosystems.
BCN: Your project DRPC claims to offer unlimited scalability with its decentralized network of RPC endpoints. Could you tell us what goes on behind the scenes to achieve this, especially while maintaining cost efficiency?
CZ: At dRPC, achieving “unlimited” scalability is rooted in leveraging a decentralized network of dynamically orchestrated RPC endpoints. This involves distributing workloads across a global network of nodes, optimizing resource allocation based on demand spikes, and implementing load-balancing algorithms to ensure consistent performance. By decentralizing infrastructure, we reduce reliance on expensive centralized servers, enabling horizontal scaling without significant cost escalation. Additionally, our usage-based pricing model and efficient caching mechanisms ensure that developers only pay for what they use, maintaining cost efficiency. This architecture not only ensures high throughput but also aligns with Web3 principles of decentralization and resilience.
BCN: Scalability is arguably the most crucial factor behind the recent adjustments in blockchain systems. We have seen the emergence of totally new blockchains built from scratch and the introduction of multiple-layer protocols to enhance performance. How would you rate the blockchain industry’s journey so far? Do you think the industry has reached a threshold of basic infrastructure upon which devs can build sustainable solutions, or should we expect more foundational infrastructure in the coming years?
CZ: The blockchain industry has made significant strides in building foundational infrastructure, with advancements like Layer-2 scaling, cross-chain protocols, and modular blockchains enabling more sustainable development. However, we have not yet reached a true threshold of maturity. Core challenges such as seamless interoperability, consistent performance under high demand, and accessibility for mainstream adoption remain unresolved. Developers still face fragmentation and inefficiencies that hinder scalability and usability. Projects like dRPC.org are pivotal in closing these gaps, providing next-gen infrastructure that bridges chains and simplifies development. We build Web3 load balancing market standard. Looking ahead, we can expect continued innovation in foundational infrastructure to fully realize the potential of Web3.