Question 1

Is a blockchain API the same as an RPC node?

Accepted Answer

No. An RPC node answers raw chain methods and returns undecoded data. A blockchain data API indexes the chain and returns priced balances, decoded transactions, and protocol positions as JSON. GetBlock is the node provider on this list; the other four are data APIs.

Question 2

Which blockchain API is best for AI agents?

Accepted Answer

All five ship MCP servers, so choose by the data behind them. CoinStats API for wallet, DeFi, and portfolio data, GetBlock for chain state, Codex for real-time token data, GoldRush for decoded history, and Blockscout for EVM explorer data. CoinStats API, Codex, and GoldRush also accept pay-per-request micropayments with no account.

Question 3

Do I need more than one provider?

Accepted Answer

Usually two. Read display data from a data API and write transactions through a node provider. Add a specialist only when the first two do not cover a specific need.

Question 4

Which has the largest free tier?

Accepted Answer

The units are not comparable. Blockscout gives 100K credits per day, GetBlock 50K compute units per day, CoinStats API 20,000 credits per month, and Codex 10,000 requests per month. GoldRush offers a 14-day trial rather than an ongoing free plan.

Question 5

Which supports the most chains?

Accepted Answer

GetBlock covers 130+ networks for RPC. CoinStats API aggregates wallet and market data across 120+ chains, Blockscout indexes 120+ EVM chains, GoldRush covers 100+, and Codex covers 80+.

Best Blockchain APIs for Developers in 2026