Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Plugin FAQs

What is the Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Add-on?

The Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Add-on unlocks gRPC access to Solana's Geyser plugin, enabling high-performance, real-time data streaming for transactions, accounts, blocks, and other blockchain state changes. It provides a structured, low-latency alternative to traditional WebSocket and JSON-RPC API queries.

How does Yellowstone gRPC improve performance compared to standard Solana WebSockets?

Unlike traditional WebSockets, which require multiple subscriptions for different data types, Yellowstone gRPC provides structured, batched streaming from a Geyser-enabled node. It uses HTTP/2 multiplexing for lower latency and optional zstd compression to reduce bandwidth usage, making real-time Solana data faster and more efficient. Additionally, Yellowstone offers advanced server-side filtering, allowing users to limit unwanted response data and receive only the most relevant updates, further optimizing performance and reducing unnecessary data processing.

For details on enabling zstd compression, see the zstd Compression Documentation.

How fast does the Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Add-on deliver data?

The response time depends on network propagation between the leader validator (which sets the block timestamp) and the Geyser node. Since Solana uses a leader-based slot production system, the data is available on a Geyser node as soon as it propagates from the leader. In practice, this results in low-latency data streaming, but exact times vary depending on network conditions.

What kind of data can I access using Yellowstone gRPC?

With Yellowstone gRPC, you can access:

• Transaction Streams – Real-time updates for executed transactions as they are processed by the network.

• Block Updates – Notifications for new blocks, including their commitment status (Processed, Confirmed, or Finalized).

• Account Updates – State changes for specific accounts as they occur.

• Program Events – Logs emitted from on-chain programs during execution.

Is Yellowstone gRPC better than using Solana WebSockets?

Yellowstone gRPC offers more efficient data streaming, reduces connection overhead, and supports structured responses. Unlike WebSockets, which require separate subscriptions for different data types, Yellowstone gRPC delivers batched updates within a slot, providing multiple account updates in real-time. Websockets delivers a single update at the end of the slot.

However, WebSockets may still be suitable for simpler use cases, existing integrations that don’t require high-performance data ingestion, or web applications that do not support gRPC.

Does this add-on improve the reliability of my Solana data streams?

Yes, Yellowstone gRPC benefits from structured gRPC streams that are inherently more stable than WebSockets, which can suffer from dropped connections and require reconnections. The structured nature of gRPC also improves efficiency for large-scale data consumers.

Who should use the Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Add-on?

This add-on is ideal for developers and enterprises needing:

• High-performance real-time data ingestion.

• Structured, scalable data streaming.

• Low-latency transaction and account updates for trading, analytics, or dApps.

How do I enable the Yellowstone gRPC Geyser Add-on?

You can enable this add-on through the QuickNode Marketplace. Once activated, you'll gain access to Yellowstone gRPC on your Solana endpoint. Learn more about Yellowstone gRPC configuration and usage in our Yellowstone gRPC documentation.

Does this replace standard Solana RPC methods?

No, Yellowstone gRPC is an enhancement, not a replacement. Traditional RPC methods remain available and useful for various applications. However, if you require faster, more structured, and scalable data streaming, gRPC is the recommended option.

What is the expected latency when subscribing to new block data?

When subscribing to new block data, the response time can vary between 0 milliseconds and 1.2 seconds due to network propagation. This delay occurs as the block is gossiped through the validator network before reaching all nodes, including those subscribed to real-time data streams. Commitment Level and Response Time

The commitment level used in the subscription also affects response time:

• Processed: Fastest response time, up to 1.5s

• Confirmed: Moderate response time, between 3s to 5s

• Finalized: Longest response time, requires 32 blocks, average 15s

Why is using gRPC block response timestamp for latency calculation not feasible?

Many people attempt to calculate latency by subtracting the block metadata timestamp from the gRPC block response timestamp. However, this approach is not feasible because the block timestamp is set by the leader validator node, and network propagation delays can introduce inconsistencies in response time. A more accurate approach would be to measure network latency directly through alternative methods.