The Graph (GRT) has emerged as a foundational piece of infrastructure in the rapidly expanding Web3 ecosystem. As decentralized applications (dApps) grow in complexity and usage, the need for efficient, reliable data indexing becomes critical. The Graph addresses this challenge by enabling seamless access to blockchain data through open APIs known as subgraphs. This article explores the current GRT price, its underlying technology, market dynamics, and long-term potential — delivering valuable insights for developers, investors, and crypto enthusiasts alike.
What Is The Graph (GRT)?
The Graph is an open-source indexing protocol designed to query data from blockchains like Ethereum, IPFS, and POA Network. It serves as the "Google of blockchains," allowing developers to efficiently search and retrieve decentralized data using GraphQL — a powerful query language for APIs.
Instead of building custom backends to pull blockchain data, developers can create or use existing subgraphs — open APIs that organize and index specific data streams from smart contracts. These subgraphs power major decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms such as Uniswap, Aave, Synthetix, and Balancer, making The Graph a critical component of today’s dApp landscape.
Currently, The Graph supports indexing across multiple networks, with plans to expand to additional chains in the near future. While a hosted service is already live and widely used by developers, the full decentralized network launched in 2023, transitioning control from centralized servers to a community-driven model secured by token incentives.
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Key Features That Set The Graph Apart
Decentralized Data Querying
Unlike traditional web services that rely on centralized databases, The Graph decentralizes the process of storing and retrieving blockchain data. This ensures transparency, censorship resistance, and reliability — core tenets of Web3.
Open-Source Subgraphs
Anyone can publish a subgraph, making it easy for developers to share, reuse, and build upon existing data models. With over 3,000 subgraphs deployed, The Graph fosters collaboration and accelerates development across the ecosystem.
Scalable Infrastructure
The network handles billions of queries monthly. In 2020 alone, it processed more than 7 billion queries — a number that has grown significantly since then due to increased DeFi and NFT activity.
Multi-Chain Support
While initially focused on Ethereum, The Graph now supports IPFS and POA Network, with ongoing integrations for other Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions. This multi-chain approach enhances interoperability and scalability.
Who Are the Founders of The Graph?
The Graph was co-founded in 2018 by Yaniv Tal, Jannis Pohlmann, and Brandon Ramirez — all experienced software engineers with deep expertise in distributed systems and full-stack development. Their vision was to simplify how developers interact with blockchain data by creating a standardized, decentralized indexing solution.
Yaniv Tal, the project’s lead architect, previously worked at Facebook and MongoDB, bringing enterprise-grade engineering principles to blockchain infrastructure. Together, the team built The Graph to address growing pains in the DeFi space, where accessing real-time blockchain data had become increasingly complex and resource-intensive.
How Many GRT Tokens Are in Circulation?
GRT is the native utility token of The Graph ecosystem. It plays a central role in securing the network through staking and incentivizing participants across four key roles:
- Indexers: Node operators who stake GRT to index subgraphs and serve query results.
- Curators: Users who signal on high-quality subgraphs by staking GRT, helping guide indexers toward valuable data sources.
- Delegators: Token holders who delegate their GRT to indexers without running nodes themselves.
- Consumers: Applications or users who pay in GRT to query data.
As of 2025, the total supply of GRT is approximately 10 billion tokens, with a significant portion already in circulation. The remaining tokens are allocated for future staking rewards, community grants, and ecosystem development over a 10-year period.
How Is The Graph Network Secured?
Security in The Graph comes from economic incentives aligned through GRT staking. Indexers must lock up GRT to participate in query processing. If they provide inaccurate or malicious data, they risk having their stake slashed — a mechanism known as cryptoeconomic security.
Curators also play a vital role by signaling on useful subgraphs. Their stakes are at risk if they promote low-quality or fraudulent APIs. This creates a self-correcting system where honest behavior is rewarded and bad actors are penalized.
Additionally, the network uses a dispute resolution layer where incorrect responses can be challenged and verified on-chain, further enhancing trustlessness and accuracy.
Current GRT Price & Market Overview
As of 2025, GRT trades within a dynamic range influenced by broader crypto market trends, DeFi adoption rates, and overall network usage. Real-time GRT to USD prices reflect growing demand for decentralized data infrastructure.
Market capitalization remains competitive among mid-tier cryptocurrencies, supported by consistent query volume growth and increasing integration with new dApps. Investors monitor key metrics such as:
- Daily query volume
- Number of active subgraphs
- Indexer participation rate
- Staking yield trends
These indicators help assess the health and scalability of The Graph network beyond just price movements.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the primary use case of GRT?
A: GRT is used to pay for query services on The Graph network. It also secures the network through staking by Indexers and Curators.
Q: Can I stake GRT tokens?
A: Yes. You can either become an Indexer by running a node or delegate your GRT to an existing Indexer to earn rewards passively.
Q: Is The Graph only used for DeFi apps?
A: No. While widely adopted in DeFi, The Graph also supports NFT marketplaces, DAOs, gaming platforms, and other Web3 applications requiring structured blockchain data.
Q: How do I create a subgraph?
A: Developers can use The Graph Studio or CLI tools to define mappings from smart contracts to GraphQL schemas. Tutorials and documentation are available on the official website.
Q: Is querying data on The Graph free?
A: On the hosted service, queries are currently free for developers. However, on the decentralized network, consumers pay small fees in GRT for high-volume usage.
Q: What blockchains does The Graph support?
A: Currently supported chains include Ethereum, IPFS, POA Network, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum, and Avalanche — with more expected in 2025.
Why The Graph Matters for Web3’s Future
As blockchain ecosystems evolve, scalable data access will be just as important as transaction speed or smart contract functionality. The Graph fills this gap by offering a decentralized alternative to traditional cloud-based querying systems.
With growing adoption across DeFi, NFTs, and Layer 2 solutions, The Graph is positioned to become a backbone of Web3 infrastructure — much like AWS powers parts of Web2 today.
Its open-source nature encourages innovation while maintaining security through tokenized incentives. For investors, this translates into long-term value potential tied directly to usage growth rather than speculation alone.
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Final Thoughts
The Graph (GRT) is more than just another cryptocurrency — it’s a vital utility layer enabling the next generation of decentralized applications. From powering price feeds in DeFi protocols to enabling dynamic NFT dashboards, its impact is widespread and growing.
Whether you're a developer building on Web3 or an investor evaluating infrastructure projects, understanding The Graph’s role in the ecosystem offers strategic advantages. As adoption continues to rise and decentralization deepens, GRT remains a compelling asset in the evolving digital economy.
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