Standard blockchain RPCs were built for Ethereum’s throughput, not for the demands of real-time applications. Current approaches force developers to run external indexers that constantly poll the blockchain for updates, creating expensive technical overhead. Somnia Data Streams introduces subscription-based RPCs that eliminate this polling by pushing updates directly to applications. Built for Somnia’s network, which processes over 1 million transactions per second with sub-second finality, Data Streams enables developers to read and write data at the speed their applications require.
Applications subscribe to the specific data they need and receive instant updates when state changes, rather than paying indexers to poll the blockchain repeatedly. This subscription model cuts out redundant queries, lowers operational costs, and delivers real-time responsiveness that traditional blockchain infrastructure couldn’t support. Developers get an experience comparable to modern databases, without sacrificing blockchain’s security and verifiability.
Transforming Prediction Markets
Prediction markets have exploded in popularity recently. Platforms are processing billions in volume, proving there’s massive demand for onchain speculation beyond just token trading. Despite this growth, the technology behind these platforms remains surprisingly primitive.
Most prediction markets today rely heavily on off-chain infrastructure. Oracles fetch outcomes from external sources. Settlement happens manually or through centralized third parties. This limits the types of bets that are possible. Complex, specific wagers are difficult to offer because there’s no way to verify outcomes and settle instantly. When disputes happen, the platform has to step in and decide who’s right. This turns the platform into a middleman you have to trust, which defeats the entire purpose of using blockchain in the first place.
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