As blockchain adoption accelerates across industries, developers increasingly rely on node infrastructure providers like NOWNodes to access real-time, high-performance blockchain data. While integrating with a RPC nodes API may seem straightforward, critical implementation mistakes can lead to outages, incorrect data, or even security breaches. In this article, we outline the top 5 most common mistakes developers make when working with RPC nodes via API, and offer practical guidance on how to avoid them using best practices and reliable tooling.
1. Incorrect Use of RPC Methods
Mistake: Misusing or relying on unsupported or deprecated RPC calls without validating compatibility with the node or protocol version.
Impact: Leads to errors in production environments, missing data, or unpredictable behavior during smart contract interactions or transaction parsing.
How to avoid it:
- Always consult the latest NOWNodes documentation to ensure that you are using supported RPC methods for the specific blockchain.
- Test methods in a staging environment before moving to production.
- Leverage community-supported SDKs or verified code samples to ensure RPC consistency across updates.
2. Lack of Error Handling and Retry Logic
Mistake: Failing to handle timeout responses, network failures, or temporary service unavailability in client-side applications.
Impact: Results in fragile applications that break under load or degrade user experience during peak times or network congestion.
How to avoid it:
- Implement structured retry logic with exponential backoff.
- Monitor and log all API responses for better diagnostics.
- Use timeouts and fallback procedures for mission-critical operations.
3. Ignoring Rate Limits and Request Quotas
Mistake: Sending an excessive volume of requests without respecting the provider’s rate limits or batching capabilities.
Impact: API throttling, rejected requests, or temporary suspension of service access.
How to avoid it:
- Understand your plan’s rate limits and adjust your request strategy accordingly.
- Batch queries wherever possible (e.g., requesting multiple block heights in a single call).
- For high-throughput systems, NOWNodes offers scalable infrastructure with custom solutions tailored to enterprise needs.
4. Poor API Key Security
Mistake: Show you API key- NEVER SHARE WITH SOMEONE YOUR API KEY!
Impact: Unauthorized access, usage overages, or compromised security of your application and data.
How to avoid it:
- Store API keys securely in backend environments, using environment variables or secret management tools like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault.
- Never hardcode or expose keys in frontend code.
5. Misunderstanding Transaction Finality
Mistake: Assuming transactions are confirmed as soon as they are broadcasted or included in the mempool.
Impact: Inaccurate status reporting, premature user notifications, or financial loss due to double spends or orphaned blocks.
How to avoid it:
- Always verify transaction confirmation counts (
confirmations > N) before marking transactions as final. - Use
eth_getTransactionReceipt,gettransaction, or equivalent methods depending on the blockchain. - NOWNodes offers accurate, up-to-date transaction data across all supported networks to help prevent false positives.
How NOWNodes Helps You Avoid These Pitfalls
NOWNodes simplifies blockchain integration by offering:
- Access to over 110 blockchain networks through a single, unified API
- 99,95 uptime and low-latency infrastructure
- Rich, up-to-date documentation and 24/7 technical support
- Scalable plans with flexible pricing for startups and enterprises
- WebSocket support, and professional tooling for developers
Conclusion
Working with RPC nodes via API demands attention to detail, robust architecture, and secure practices. Whether you’re building a DeFi app, NFT marketplace, or enterprise-grade analytics platform, avoiding these common mistakes will save time, prevent outages, and ensure data accuracy.
By choosing a trusted infrastructure provider like NOWNodes, developers can focus on product innovation—while we handle the complexity of blockchain node management.
