Blockdaemon Guides - How to Connect to Polkadot

How to Access Polkadot Credentials

If you haven't configured a node, learn how to deploy one here.

Log into the Blockdaemon app.
Select Nodes & RPC from the sidebar menu.
Go to the My Nodes tab and select the Polkadot node you want to connect to.
Under the Connect tab, you’ll find:
1. Endpoint URL
2. Auth String
3. Auth Token

Please reach out to support@blockdaemon.com or your Customer Success Manager for support.

1. How to Connect via cURL

curl \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN" \
  -d '{
    "id": 1,
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "RPC_METHOD"
  }' \
  YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/http-rpc

Replace YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL with the Endpoint URL in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN with the Auth Token in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace RPC_METHOD with your chosen RPC method.

2. How to Connect via WebSocket

wscat -H "X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN" -c wss://YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/websocket

Replace YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL with the Endpoint URL sent in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN with the Auth Token in the Blockdaemon app.

wscat is a tool that can connect over WebSocket(s) and may need to be installed. You can use your preferred tool of choice.

3. How to Connect via Sidecar API

Sidecar is being replaced by the Polkadot REST API. The new API is not a drop-in replacement, endpoints now include a /v1/ prefix and some argument names have changed. See the migration guide to update your integration.

curl -X GET \
     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     -H 'X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN' \
     'YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/SIDECAR_METHOD'

Replace YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL with the Endpoint URL in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN with the Auth Token in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace SIDECAR_METHOD with the supported substrate sidecar methods.

4. How to Connect via REST API

Use the Polkadot REST API to call native Polkadot REST methods through your Blockdaemon-hosted node.

Making a request: Append the REST API method path after your endpoint URL:

YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/rest/v1/YOUR_METHOD

Example — retrieve the most recently finalized block header:

curl -X GET \
  'YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/rest/v1/blocks/head/header' \
  -H 'X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN'

Replace YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL with the Endpoint URL in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN with the Auth Token in the Blockdaemon app.
Replace YOUR_METHOD with your chosen Polkadot REST API method.