Mainnet
Mainnet Rosetta API
https://cardano-mainnet.gateway.tatum.io
Free Cardano RPC (ADA)
Discover Cardano, a proof-of-stake blockchain designed for sustainable dApps. Explore its unique approach to scalability and security.
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Gateway
Connect to Cardano
Access reliable, enterprise-grade endpoints that power your dApp with ultra-low latency and 99.9% uptime.
Connect to Cardano Gateway
Make your first RPC call on Cardano's Blockchain Gateway.
Preprod
Testnet Rosetta API
https://cardano-preprod.gateway.tatum.io
* Rate limit enabled - perfect for testing and development. For production, we recommend to Upgrade.
Ready for production?
Get 200 requests/second, priority support and advanced blockchain features.
Global Load Balancer
Route to nearest node
Batch RPC Calls
Multiple requests at once
Archive Nodes
Historical blockchain data
Debug & Trace
Advanced debugging
Advanced Analytics
Usage & performance
Bring Your Own RPC
Custom RPC gateways
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Method reference
Cardano methods
Every method the Cardano gateway accepts, grouped by interface. 20 in total, read live from the node rather than kept by hand.
Mainnet is the live Cardano network. Every transaction it
accepts is final, and every ADA balance it
reports is real money.
Preprod is the test network. It answers the same methods as Mainnet, with tokens that are free and deliberately worthless, so you can rehearse edge cases at no risk. Moving to Mainnet is a URL change and nothing more.
Everything below is served over REST. Its endpoint differs per network, and all of them are in the gateway list above.
What sits between you and Cardano
A node is a machine running Cardano with a copy of the chain. Your code cannot ask the chain directly, it asks a node. The gateway picks a healthy one for every call, so you point at one URL instead of one machine.
Your application
FREE RPC gateway picks a healthy node
Node Node Node
- One URL, nothing to run or keep patched yourself.
- Calls routed to a node that is up and in sync.
- A failing node is skipped rather than returned to you as an error.
REST
20 methods https://cardano-mainnet.gateway.tatum.io
Every resource has its own URL, so a request is just an address you can open.
Paste it into a browser, curl it, or bookmark it. There is no body to construct and no method name to look up, and because a read is a plain GET, ordinary HTTP caching applies at the CDN and in your own client. Responses are JSON, and the path itself usually tells you what you are getting.
Where it fits
- Getting oriented on an unfamiliar chain without writing any code first.
- Caching, because a GET can be cached by anything sitting between you and the node.
- Debugging, since the request that failed is a URL you can paste to a colleague.
Trade-offs
- You get exactly what the endpoint returns. There is no way to ask for less, or for more.
- Building a full picture takes several round trips where one batched JSON-RPC call would do.
- Paths carry version prefixes and shift between node releases more readily than method names do.
Enabled and tested methods
Read live from the endpoint, so this is what it actually serves today rather than what the protocol allows in principle. Anything not on this list returns a method-not-found error.
- POST /account/balance
- Returns the balance of an account at a given block.
- POST /account/coins
- Returns the unspent coins controlled by an account.
- POST /block
- Returns a block and the transactions it contains.
- POST /block/transaction
- Returns one transaction from a block.
- POST /call
- Invokes a network-specific procedure that Rosetta does not model directly.
- POST /construction/combine
- Combines an unsigned transaction with its signatures.
- POST /construction/derive
- Derives an address from a public key.
- POST /construction/hash
- Returns the hash a signed transaction will have.
- POST /construction/metadata
- Returns the network metadata needed to build a transaction, such as nonce and fees.
- POST /construction/parse
- Decodes a transaction back into its operations, signed or unsigned.
- POST /construction/payloads
- Returns the payloads that must be signed for a set of operations.
- POST /construction/preprocess
- Works out what metadata will be needed before building a transaction.
- POST /construction/submit
- Submits a signed transaction to the network.
- POST /events/blocks
- Returns a sequence of block add and remove events, for following the chain.
- POST /mempool
- Lists the transaction identifiers currently in the mempool.
- POST /mempool/transaction
- Returns one transaction from the mempool.
- POST /network/list
- Lists the networks this Rosetta instance serves.
- POST /network/options
- Returns the version, allowed operations and errors for a network.
- POST /network/status
- Returns the current and genesis block, plus peers, for a network.
- POST /search/transactions
- Searches transactions by account, status, type or identifier.
Common REST errors
What you are most likely to hit calling this interface, and what to do about it.
- 400
- Bad request. A path or query parameter is malformed. Check the parameter format, and that path values are URL-encoded.
- 404
- Not found. Either the path is wrong, or the resource genuinely does not exist at that height. Confirm the path against the list above. A valid path can still 404 for pruned history on a non-archive node.
- 429
- Rate limited. You have exceeded the free tier request allowance. Back off and retry. REST responses cache well, so caching on your side removes most repeat traffic.
- 500
- Internal server error. The node failed while handling the request. Retry with backoff.
- 503
- Service unavailable. The node is starting, resyncing, or temporarily out of rotation. Retry with backoff; this is normally short-lived.
Blockchain Data
Indexed Cardano Data Insights
Complete on-chain data access, no infrastructure to run yourself. Query wallets, tokens, NFTs, and transaction history with lightning-fast APIs.
Learn more
About Cardano
What it is, and guides for building on it.
The Cardano RPC documentation provides developers with the tools to interact programmatically with the Cardano blockchain. The guide includes detailed API endpoints for querying blockchain data, managing transactions, and interacting with smart contracts on Cardano’s secure, proof-of-stake (PoS) network. Cardano’s dual-layer architecture, designed for scalability and security, supports the development of decentralized applications in a sustainable manner. Developers can use this documentation to efficiently build and deploy dApps while adhering to Cardano’s best practices.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Cardano RPC endpoints
Quick Answer: What is Cardano RPC?
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is the standard way to interact with the network programmatically - reading on-chain data, submitting transactions, and deploying smart contracts through JSON-RPC calls. The free tier ships 5 requests per minute with no registration required, which covers most learning and testing workflows. Production applications typically move to Tatum Premium for 200 requests per second and enterprise-grade reliability.
What is Cardano RPC?
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is the interface that lets developers interact with the network: read on-chain data, submit transactions, and deploy smart contracts programmatically over standard JSON-RPC methods, without running your own node.
How do I connect to Cardano using these RPC endpoints?
Simply copy the RPC endpoint URL from above and configure it in your Web3 library (ethers.js, web3.js), wallet (MetaMask, Trust Wallet), or development tool (Hardhat, Truffle). The endpoint works immediately with no registration required for the free tier.
What are the rate limits for the free RPC tier?
Free tier RPC endpoints are limited to 5 requests per minute. This is perfect for testing and development. For production applications, we recommend upgrading to Tatum Premium which offers 200 requests per second with no daily limits.
Is Cardano RPC free forever?
Yes! Our free tier RPC endpoints are free forever with 5 requests per minute. This tier is perfect for learning, testing, and small projects. There are no hidden fees or time limits on the free tier.
What happens if I exceed the free tier rate limit?
If you exceed 5 requests per minute on the free tier, you'll receive an HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) error. This is a standard rate limiting response. To avoid this, you can upgrade to Tatum Premium which offers 200 requests per second with no daily limits, perfect for production applications.
Can I use these Cardano RPC endpoints with MetaMask?
Yes! You can configure MetaMask to use our RPC endpoints. Simply copy the endpoint URL from above, go to MetaMask Settings > Networks > Add Network (or edit existing), and paste the RPC URL. This works with all EVM-compatible networks, including this one.
Are these RPC endpoints secure?
Yes, all our RPC endpoints use HTTPS encryption and follow enterprise-grade security practices. They're powered by Tatum's infrastructure which maintains 99.9% uptime.
What's the difference between mainnet and testnet RPC endpoints?
Mainnet carries real transactions with real value, so every write is final. Testnet runs on a separate network funded with free test tokens, which makes it the safe place to try new code, retry failed calls, and simulate edge cases. Always validate on testnet before pointing production traffic at mainnet.
How do I troubleshoot RPC connection errors?
If you're experiencing connection errors, check: 1) The RPC endpoint URL is correct, 2) You're not exceeding rate limits (5 req/min for free tier), 3) Your network allows HTTPS connections, 4) The network is currently operational. For persistent issues, check our status page or contact support.
Can I use these endpoints in production?
Free tier endpoints can be used in production for low-traffic applications (under 5 req/min). For production apps with higher traffic, we strongly recommend Tatum Premium for guaranteed uptime, faster rate limits, and enterprise SLA.
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