Scalar aggregates and compresses query transactions on The Graph network to make them faster and cheaper
Yesterday The Graph unveiled Scalar, a scalable microtransaction system designed to aggregate and compress query transactions before they are finalized on-chain. The technology also improves throughput to support The Graph’s future growth.
The Graph is an indexing protocol that enables developers to build and publish open APIs called subgraphs. Applications use these subgraphs to query blockchain data. To date, more than 10,000 subgraphs have been deployed across a wide range of projects, including Synthetix, Uniswap, AAVE, Balancer, Decentraland, Gnosis and CoinMarketCap.
Each query on the network carries an individual cost, and in March of this year query volume surpassed 19 billion. Even a small delay per query accumulates at scale: if every query added just 250 milliseconds to page load times, 19 billion transactions would amount to more than 150 years of added latency, discouraging users from engaging with Web3.
Scalar is built on the Connext Vector protocol, a cross-chain liquidity network that facilitates transfers among EVM-compatible chains and Layer 2 systems. Developed with support from Edge & Node, Scalar optimizes parallel processing of query transactions between indexers and consumers on The Graph.
Eva Beylin, Director of the Graph Foundation, explained: “For Web3 infrastructure to operate efficiently, transactions must be as seamless as possible. Indexers are the backbone of Web3, and Scalar will enable efficient transactions and low-cost query fees, allowing them to scale operations and serve The Graph Network. Scalar addresses this challenge for The Graph and will allow other builders to deliver efficient transactions to their users.”
Scalar is implemented in the multi-paradigm programming language Rust and will be open source so any application can adopt it to process transactions more efficiently and help improve Web3 overall.
Yaniv Tal, co-founder and CEO of Edge & Node, added: “The original vision of the web included a microtransaction system for payments, refunds and tipping. That system was started but never fully completed, although remnants remain—like the 402 “Payment Required” error code. Scalar finishes the work started by the web’s pioneering architects by weaving microtransactions directly into the fabric of the web.”