GlossaryUpdated 12 Oct 20261 min read

What is a Solana RPC?

In one sentence

An RPC is the server your wallet or app uses to read the Solana network and send transactions. Its speed and reliability affect how fast and how often your transactions land.

Definition

RPC stands for remote procedure call. When an app asks for a balance or sends a swap, it talks to an RPC node, which forwards the request to the network.

Why it matters

Slow or rate-limited RPCs cause stuck or failed transactions.
Trading and bot tools often let you use your own RPC endpoint.
Paid providers offer higher limits and faster responses.

Compare providers on the RPC providers page.

Questions people ask

Is the public RPC enough?

For light use, yes. Heavy or time-sensitive use usually needs a dedicated provider.

Does the RPC hold my funds?

No. It only relays reads and signed transactions.