The Graph wallet

What is The Graph

History

The Graph was conceived in 2017 by Yaniv Tal, Brandon Ramirez, and Jannis Pohlmann. The team, originally working on applications built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, identified the need for a decentralized query protocol due to the inefficiency of existing solutions. After years of development, The Graph’s mainnet launched in December 2020. The Graph has since grown rapidly, with more than 20,000 developers and over 3,000 subgraphs (open APIs) deployed by mid-2021. The project’s success is tied to its mission of enabling truly decentralized and reliable access to blockchain data, which is essential for the growth of Web3 applications.

Creators and Developers

The core team behind The Graph consists of Yaniv Tal, Brandon Ramirez, and Jannis Pohlmann. Tal, a former software engineer, is a co-founder and project lead. Ramirez serves as the research lead, while Pohlmann is the tech lead. Together, they have spearheaded the development of The Graph, with a vision to create a decentralized network for indexing and querying data from blockchains. The project is supported by the broader Graph Protocol Foundation and a community of developers and contributors worldwide.

Technology

The Graph operates on its own decentralized protocol, built on Ethereum and supports various other networks such as IPFS, Arbitrum, Avalanche, and others. It uses "subgraphs," which are open APIs that anyone can query. Subgraphs define the data that a user wants to query, making it possible to index blockchain data efficiently. The protocol uses a mechanism called the GraphQL query language, which allows developers to fetch and display data from multiple sources in a single API call. The indexing and querying process is decentralized through a network of indexers (nodes) who earn rewards in GRT tokens for their services.

Mining and Issuance

GRT, the native token of The Graph, is an ERC-20 token used to incentivize various participants in the network, including indexers, curators, and delegators. The total supply of GRT is capped at 10 billion tokens, with an initial distribution event occurring at the mainnet launch in December 2020. Unlike traditional mining, GRT is earned through network participation. Indexers stake GRT tokens to provide indexing services, while curators and delegators can stake tokens to support specific subgraphs, earning a portion of the network fees and rewards.

Networks and Support

While The Graph was initially launched on the Ethereum blockchain, it has expanded its support to other networks. The Graph is compatible with multiple blockchains, including IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) and Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism. The protocol is designed to be cross-chain compatible, enabling seamless data querying across different blockchains. The community and developers can also create subgraphs for any blockchain, as long as it meets the protocol’s standards, expanding the range of applications supported by The Graph.

Applications and Use Cases

The Graph is widely used in DeFi, governance, and various Web3 applications. Prominent projects like Uniswap, Synthetix, and Aave rely on The Graph for querying on-chain data efficiently. It also powers many other decentralized applications (dApps) by allowing them to retrieve blockchain data without needing to develop and maintain their own indexing servers. This has positioned The Graph as a critical infrastructure provider in the Web3 ecosystem, promoting a more decentralized and scalable approach to data access.

Popularity and Market Capitalization

Since its launch, GRT has become one of the more prominent tokens in the crypto market, often ranking within the top 100 by market capitalization. The token’s value has seen fluctuations typical of the volatile crypto market, but its utility within the ecosystem has contributed to sustained interest from both retail and institutional investors. The protocol’s adoption by high-profile projects and consistent network growth has helped maintain its relevance in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.

Partnerships and Integrations

The Graph has established partnerships with numerous blockchain projects and platforms. It integrates with various Layer 2 solutions, facilitating faster and cheaper transactions, which are essential for scaling dApps. Additionally, The Graph collaborates with major blockchain ecosystems, enhancing its interoperability and expanding its use cases across different sectors. These partnerships have solidified The Graph’s position as a vital component of the Web3 infrastructure.

Community and Media

The Graph boasts a vibrant community of developers, curators, indexers, and delegators who contribute to the protocol’s development and governance. The project is actively discussed on platforms like Discord, Twitter, and various forums. The Graph has also received significant attention from media outlets and analysts, often being highlighted as a critical player in the Web3 space. The community’s involvement in governance through The Graph Council ensures that the protocol evolves in a decentralized and community-driven manner.