What Are the Kaia RPC Endpoints and How Do You Connect to Kaia?

Kaia Endpoint Decision Checklist

Before selecting a Kaia RPC endpoint, evaluate these factors:

• Reliability: Public endpoints may throttle or become unavailable under load. For production, consider a dedicated node or a provider with SLA-backed service.
• Latency: Geographically distributed endpoints reduce round-trip time. Check if the provider has edge nodes near your users or backend.
• Data access: Archive data and trace APIs are essential for some dApps. Verify support for kaia_getLogs, debug_traceTransaction, etc.
• WebSocket support: For real-time subscriptions, ensure the provider offers WSS endpoints.
• Rate limits: Public endpoints often cap requests per second. Read the fine print to avoid disruptions.
• Pricing: Compare pay-as-you-go, flat-rate, and dedicated node plans. Some providers offer free tiers for low-volume testing.

Kaia Network Overview

Kaia (formerly Klaytn) is a high-performance L1 blockchain optimized for enterprise use, particularly in Asia. It uses a BFT-based consensus and is designed for stablecoin and finance applications. The network has two primary chains:

• Cypress – Mainnet
• Kairos – Public testnet (replaced Baobab)

To interact with either chain, your application sends JSON-RPC requests to an endpoint node. You can run your own node or use a managed RPC provider.

Public Kaia Endpoints

Kaia provides free public endpoints for both mainnet and testnet. These are suitable for prototyping, small-scale testing, and light usage. Be aware of rate limits and potential downtime.

Note: The old Klaytn endpoints (public-en-cypress.klaytn.net, etc.) were deprecated in September 2024. Update your configurations to the new URLs.

Running Your Own Kaia Endpoint Node vs. Using a Provider

Operating a Kaia Endpoint Node (EN) gives you full control but comes with operational overhead:

• Hardware: Requires a machine with at least 8 cores, 32GB RAM, and ~1TB SSD for mainnet.
• Maintenance: Synchronizing from genesis takes days; you must monitor storage, update the node software, and handle networking.
• Cost: Cloud hosting fees, engineering time, and potential backup infrastructure.

Managed RPC providers offload these concerns. They offer:

• Pre-configured nodes with load balancing and failover.
• Scale-on-demand without infrastructure changes.
• Access to archive data and advanced APIs.

OnFinality provides Kaia RPC endpoints with global edge distribution, dedicated nodes, and WebSocket support—available as a pay-as-you-go or subscription service.

How to Choose a Kaia RPC Provider

When evaluating providers for your Kaia application, use this table:

Check RPC pricing and supported networks for current options.

Common Kaia RPC Methods and Example

Kaia supports standard Ethereum JSON-RPC methods plus Kaia-specific extensions. Here is a simple curl example to get the current block number on Cypress:

curl -X POST https://public-en.node.kaia.io \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "kaia_blockNumber",
    "params": [],
    "id": 1
  }'

Other commonly used methods:

• kaia_getBalance – query KLAY balance of an address
• kaia_call – execute a read-only contract call
• eth_sendRawTransaction – broadcast a signed transaction
• kaia_getTransactionReceipt – check transaction status

For WebSocket subscriptions, use the eth_subscribe method with a dedicated WSS endpoint.

Debugging and Troubleshooting

Common issues when connecting to Kaia endpoints:

• Invalid endpoint URL: Double-check you use the correct network (Cypress vs Kairos) and URL format.
• Rate limiting: Public endpoints may return HTTP 429 or error messages. Retry with exponential backoff or switch to a private provider.
• Outdated endpoints: If you previously used klaytn.net URLs, update to kaia.io as of September 2024.
• Chain ID mismatch: Cypress chain ID is 8217, Kairos is 1001. Ensure your wallet or app uses the correct chain ID.
• WebSocket drops: Some public WSS endpoints have connection limits. For stable real-time feeds, use a provider with dedicated WebSocket support.

Key Takeaways

• Kaia offers free public endpoints for Cypress and Kairos, but these have rate limits and no SLA.
• For production infrastructure, evaluate managed providers that offer reliability, low latency, and archive data.
• Update your tooling to the current Kaia URLs (.kaia.io) and avoid deprecated Klaytn endpoints.
• Test with a simple curl or RPC library before building your application.
• Consider a dedicated node or a service like OnFinality for production workloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Ethereum tools with Kaia?
Yes, Kaia is EVM-compatible, so tools like MetaMask, Hardhat, and ethers.js work with the appropriate chain settings. Set the chain ID to 8217 for Cypress or 1001 for Kairos.

What is the Kaia testnet called and how do I get test KLAY?
The testnet is Kairos. Use the Kaia Faucet to request test KLAY. Some providers also offer faucet access.

Are there any free Kaia RPC providers?
Yes, the public endpoints listed above are free. Many third-party providers also offer free tiers with limited requests per day.

How do I migrate from Klaytn endpoints to Kaia endpoints?
Replace the URL domain from .klaytn.net to .kaia.io and update your chain ID if needed. See the Kaia docs for a full migration guide.

Can I get archive data on public endpoints?
Yes, Kaia provides public archive endpoints (e.g., archive-en.node.kaia.io). However, these may be rate-limited. For heavy archive usage, consider a dedicated provider.