Pocket Network (POKT) is a decentralized blockchain API infrastructure protocol — a DePIN alternative to centralized RPC providers like Infura and Alchemy — where node operators around the world receive POKT token rewards for serving RPC (Remote Procedure Call) requests from Web3 developers, connecting applications to blockchains like Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and 40+ others through a censorship-resistant, multi-node network.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | POKT |
| Price | $0.01 |
| Market Cap | $25.64M |
| 24h Change | +2.0% |
| Circulating Supply | 2.01B POKT |
| All-Time High | $3.11 |
| Contract (Ethereum) | 0x764a...a935 |
| Contract (Base) | 0x764a...a935 |
| Contract (Solana) | 6CAsXf...fhoC |
| Contract (Polygon Pos) | 0x764a...a935 |
| Contract (Binance Smart Chain) | 0x764a...a935 |
| Contract (Optimistic Ethereum) | 0x764a...a935 |
| Contract (Arbitrum One) | 0x764a...a935 |
How It Works
- Node operators stake POKT — Individuals or companies running full nodes stake POKT to register as service nodes on the network. Larger stake = higher probability of being selected for sessions.
- Application developers stake POKT — DApp developers (or their gateway operators) stake POKT to access the Pocket RPC service, specifying which blockchains they need.
- Sessions — The protocol algorithmically assigns 5 service nodes to each application per session (block period). Each session creates a redundant set of nodes to ensure availability.
- Relays and rewards — Service nodes serve blockchain RPC requests (“relays”). At the end of each session, valid relays are submitted and POKT tokens are minted as rewards for nodes.
- Multi-chain support — Pocket supports 40+ blockchains (Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Harmony, etc.) allowing a single POKT stake to access all supported chains.
- Shannon upgrade — A major protocol upgrade (Shannon) rewritten in Go, improving performance and introducing a new economic model.
Tokenomics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | POKT |
| Max Supply | None (inflationary; POKT minted per relay served) |
| Consensus | Tendermint-based PoS |
| Launch | July 28, 2020 |
| Revenue model | POKT minted per relay served (inflationary) |
| Node stake | Required to serve relays |
Use Cases
- Decentralized RPC — Replace Infura, Alchemy, or QuickNode with a censorship-resistant, multi-node API.
- Node revenue — Earn POKT by running full nodes for any supported blockchain.
- Web3 infrastructure — DApps, wallets, block explorers use Pocket as decentralized blockchain data access.
History
- 2017 — Michael O’Rourke begins developing Pocket Network concept as a response to centralized blockchain API provider risk.
- 2020-07-28 — Pocket mainnet (v0) launches. POKT token begins distributing. Early blockchains supported: Ethereum, Bitcoin.
- 2021 — Pocket Network grows to support 20+ blockchains. Relay count grows to hundreds of millions per day. POKT becomes the largest decentralized RPC network globally.
- 2022 — Pocket Network becomes DAO-governed. Infrastructure improvements. POKT adopts governance framework for parameter changes.
- 2023 — Pocket Network initiates “Shannon” — a complete protocol rewrite in Go — to address performance limitations and improve architecture.
- 2024 — Shannon upgrade deployment. Introduction of “Gateway” model where third parties can operate as access points and stake POKT on behalf of developers. POKT expands to support 50+ blockchains.
Common Misconceptions
“Pocket Network is only for Ethereum.”
Pocket supports 40+ blockchains out of the box. Node operators choose which chains to support; developers can access any supported chain through the same Pocket gateway.
“POKT has a fixed supply like Bitcoin.”
POKT is inflationary — new POKT is minted with every relay served. The pre-Shannon model was particularly inflationary; Shannon introduced a more controlled emission model.
Social Media Sentiment
Pocket Network is respected in Web3 infrastructure circles as the leading decentralized alternative to Infura/Alchemy. The community of node operators is technically engaged and supportive. The relay volume (billions of monthly relays) demonstrates real utility. The Shannon upgrade is viewed as a critical maturing step for the protocol.
Last updated: 2026-04