Why Use Custom RPC Endpoints?
Performance Benefits
- Higher rate limits – Avoid public RPC throttling (e.g., 10‑100x more requests/day)
- Lower latency – Choose endpoints geographically close to you
- Priority access – Paid tiers get dedicated infrastructure
- WebSocket support – Real‑time balance/transaction updates
Privacy & Sovereignty
- No shared infrastructure – Your queries aren't mixed with thousands of others
- Censorship resistance – Control which nodes you trust
- Data ownership – RPC providers see only your requests, not your portfolio data
- Vendor independence – Switch providers anytime without losing historical data
Step 1: Generate RPC API Keys
Helius (Solana)
- Visit helius.dev and sign up for a free account
- Navigate to Dashboard → API Keys and click "Create New Key"
- Select the Solana Mainnet network (free tier offers 24M requests/month)
- Copy your RPC URL (format:
https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=your_key_here) - Optional: Enable WebSocket for real‑time updates (separate URL provided)
Alchemy (Ethereum & Solana)
- Visit alchemy.com and create an account
- Click Create App and select Ethereum or Solana chain
- Choose Mainnet network (free tier: 300M compute units/month)
- Go to your app's details page and click View Key
- Copy the HTTPS URL (format:
https://eth-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/your_api_key)
Ankr (Multi‑Chain)
- Visit ankr.com and sign up
- Navigate to RPC Service → Endpoints
- Select Ethereum or Solana from the chain list
- Click Generate Endpoint and copy the URL
- Free tier includes 250K requests/day with rate‑limit headers
Other Providers & Self‑Hosted Nodes
Chainfolio works with any JSON‑RPC compatible endpoint. You can also use:
- QuickNode – Premium multi‑chain RPC
- Infura – Ethereum‑focused (requires API key)
- GetBlock – 40+ blockchain support
- Chainstack – Enterprise‑grade nodes
- Your own node – Geth, Erigon, Solana validator
Step 2: Configure in Chainfolio
Onboarding Wizard Method
- Open Chainfolio – Navigate to the web app
- Start Onboarding – First‑time users see the setup wizard automatically
- Select "Custom RPC" – Choose "I have my own RPC endpoints"
- Paste Your URLs – Enter Solana and/or Ethereum RPC URLs
- Test Connection – Chainfolio validates latency and basic functionality
- Complete Setup – Your keys are now stored in browser's IndexedDB
Manual Configuration Method
If you skipped onboarding or want to add more endpoints later:
- Click the Settings gear icon (top‑right)
- Navigate to RPC Configuration → Add New Endpoint
- Select chain (Ethereum or Solana)
- Paste your RPC URL and give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Helius US‑West")
- Click Save & Test – Chainfolio validates and scores the endpoint
- Repeat for additional endpoints (Chainfolio supports multiple per chain for load balancing)
Step 3: Security & Best Practices
Key Management
- Never share RPC URLs – Treat them like passwords
- Use environment‑specific keys – Different keys for dev/prod if self‑hosting
- Rotate keys periodically – Most providers allow multiple active keys
- Monitor usage – Set up alerts in your RPC provider dashboard
Performance Optimization
- Add multiple endpoints – Chainfolio automatically load‑balances
- Choose geographic proximity – Lower latency = faster sync
- Enable WebSockets – For real‑time balance updates
- Monitor RPC health – Chainfolio tracks success rate and latency
Important Security Notes
- Chainfolio never transmits your RPC keys to any server – They stay in your browser's IndexedDB
- Clearing browser data deletes your RPC configuration – Backup your endpoints or use encrypted cloud sync
- Browser extensions cannot access IndexedDB – Isolated storage prevents key theft
- Consider using separate keys per device – If syncing across devices, each has its own encrypted backup
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"Failed to Connect" Error
Solution: Verify your RPC URL is correct and the API key is active. Check provider dashboard for usage limits.
Slow Sync Performance
Solution: Add additional endpoints for load balancing. Chainfolio's built-in load balancer automatically uses the fastest.
Rate Limit Errors (HTTP 429)
Solution: Upgrade your RPC plan or add multiple endpoints. Chainfolio automatically fails over to backup endpoints.
WebSocket Not Connecting
Solution: Ensure your RPC provider supports WebSockets and you've enabled it in their dashboard.
Advanced: Monitoring & Analytics
Chainfolio includes built‑in RPC monitoring. To view performance metrics:
- Navigate to Settings → RPC Configuration
- Click any endpoint to see detailed metrics:
- Success Rate – Percentage of successful requests
- Average Latency – Response time in milliseconds
- Total Requests – Count of requests made
- Error Breakdown – Types of failures (timeout, rate limit, etc.)
- Use this data to decide which endpoints to keep or replace