Imagine the internet as a vast city. You might think about the gleaming skyscrapers, the bustling markets, or the speedy transit systems. But what about the pipes and wires running beneath it all, the quiet infrastructure that makes everything work? In the world of Web3, that hidden plumbing is often handled by something called Remote Procedure Call, or RPC, providers.
- Infura is launching its Decentralized Infrastructure Network (DIN) as an Autonomous Verifiable Service (AVS) on EigenLayer to address the over-concentration of RPC traffic in Web3.
- This initiative aims to distribute crucial RPC traffic, enhancing economic security and true decentralization by incentivizing node providers through rewards and penalties (slashing).
- DIN is already integrated into major platforms like MetaMask and Linea, routing billions of monthly requests, and its launch on EigenLayer signifies a move towards a more resilient and distributed Web3 infrastructure.
For too long, these vital connections, the very method wallets and decentralized applications use to chat with a blockchain, have been a bit too concentrated. We are talking about 70 to 80 percent of traffic flowing through just a few central hubs. That is a lot of eggs in a very small basket, as Infura, a major player in this space, recently pointed out.
Now, Infura, the team behind much of that existing infrastructure, is stepping up. They are launching their Decentralized Infrastructure Network, or DIN, as an Autonomous Verifiable Service (AVS) on EigenLayer. This move aims to spread out that crucial RPC traffic, bringing economic security and true decentralization to a part of Web3 that has been, frankly, a little too comfortable with centralization.
The Quiet Backbone of Web3
Think of an RPC provider as a translator and messenger service for your crypto wallet or dapp. When you want to check your balance, send a transaction, or interact with a smart contract, your application needs to talk to a blockchain node. The RPC provider handles that conversation, making sure your request gets to the right place and the response comes back quickly and accurately.
If these central RPC providers falter, the ripple effect can be significant. Wallets might stop working, dapps could freeze, and even DeFi protocols could face disruptions. It is a systemic risk, a single point of failure that the crypto community has, perhaps, been a little too willing to overlook.
E.G. Galano, co-founder of Infura, put it plainly. He said, “We set out to build a protocol that would finally align incentives across the infrastructure layer of Web3.” With EigenLayer, he believes they can deliver on that vision. It is about building on a proven restaking standard, backed by the strongest asset in crypto, restaked ETH.
This is where EigenLayer enters the picture. It lets users re-stake their ETH, even liquid staking tokens like stETH. This restaked ETH then secures third-party applications, known as AVSs. DIN’s AVS is one of the first large-scale applications of this modular restaking model. It is designed to scale with hundreds of operators and future onchain incentive mechanisms.
Sreeram Kannan, founder and CEO of Eigen Labs, sees this as a big deal. He noted that DIN launching on EigenLayer brings real economic consequences to a part of the stack that has been too easy to overlook. For years, developers simply had to hope their centralized RPC providers would not fail. Now, there is a new layer of security and accountability.
Restaking for a Stronger Network
DIN is not starting from scratch. It is already integrated into MetaMask, Ethereum Layer 2 Linea, and Infura itself. The network routes over 13 billion monthly requests across Ethereum, various Layer 2s, and more than 20 alternative Layer 1 networks. That is a lot of traffic, and now it is getting a decentralized upgrade.
Under the AVS model, node providers are rewarded for keeping things running smoothly and providing accurate data. But there is a flip side, too. They can face penalties, or “slashing,” for downtime or incorrect responses. This creates a direct financial incentive for reliability and performance, turning infrastructure into an open marketplace.
The Infura team argues that this decentralized approach mitigates systemic risk. Instead of relying on a few central points, DIN uses a decentralized supply of RPC nodes. Independent watchers validate these nodes, and stETH restaking secures the whole system. There are plans for ETH and EIGEN support to follow, expanding the security even further.
Key features of DIN include permissionless onboarding. This means anyone can become an RPC node provider, a watcher, or a restaker. There is also independent performance verification, ensuring that the network truly delivers on its promises. Restakers also get to choose which networks they want to secure, adding another layer of flexibility.
During pilot phases, incentivized testnets showed impressive results. They recorded a success rate greater than 99 percent. Median latency, the time it takes for a request to get a response, was under 250 milliseconds. These testnets served over 7 billion monthly requests, proving the system’s capability at scale.
Founding node operators are already contributing to the AVS mainnet. Names like EverStake, Liquify, NodeFleet, Validation Cloud, and CompareNodes are on board. The DIN team also completed two independent audits, a sensible step for a system handling such critical infrastructure. Additional partners supporting the rollout include 0xFury, AltLayer, BlockPi, Chainstack, InfStones, Nodies, Northwest Nodes, Rivet, and Simply Staking.
Building the Decentralized Future
It is interesting to note the broader context here. Consensys, the parent company of Infura, has been making headlines beyond DIN. Last month, reports surfaced from Axios that Consensys engaged financial giants JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. They are assisting the company with an initial public offering in the U.S. This follows in the footsteps of other crypto-related firms like Circle, Gemini, and Bullish.
This move by Infura, a company deeply embedded in the existing Web3 structure, to decentralize its core RPC service, is a significant one. It is a nod to the foundational principles of crypto. It shows a willingness to evolve even when already at the top of the game. It is a bit like a major highway builder deciding to fund and promote a network of local, independent roads to ease traffic and prevent gridlock.
The launch of DIN’s AVS on EigenLayer is not just a technical upgrade. It is a philosophical statement. It is a step towards making the underlying infrastructure of Web3 as resilient and distributed as the blockchains it serves. This ensures that the city’s pipes and wires are not just efficient, but also robust and resistant to single points of failure. What does this mean for the future of dapps and wallets? We will certainly be watching.
