Why Fragmented Data Isn’t Enough: The Case for Comprehensive Data Layers in Web3

4 min read1 day ago

Blockchain networks generate substantial amounts of data daily. For instance, the Solana blockchain alone is estimated to produce approximately 4 terabytes of data each day. In December 2024, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) reached a record monthly trading volume of $462 billion. These figures underscore the critical need for real-time insights. However, a persistent challenge remains: blockchain data is often fragmented, unstructured, and difficult to process

For applications to scale efficiently, the ecosystem must move beyond raw, scattered data streams and adopt structured, comprehensive data layers. Here’s why:

The Problem with Fragmented Blockchain Data

Blockchain data is inherently decentralized and complex. Each chain operates independently, with unique structures and protocols. While this ensures the transparency and security that define Web3, it also creates significant challenges:

Missed Arbitrage & Yield Opportunities: Traders and DeFi protocols relying on fragmented data often experience execution delays. Without seamless cross-chain visibility, arbitrage bots miss profitable trades, and yield farmers fail to optimize returns in real time.
Data Inconsistencies & Smart Contract Failures: Disparate data sources lead to inconsistencies, impacting automated decision-making in smart contracts. For instance, lending protocols risk liquidations due to inaccurate or delayed price feeds, causing user losses and protocol instability.
Developer Bottlenecks & Rising Costs: Teams spend excessive resources normalizing blockchain data manually. This not only slows development but also increases infrastructure costs, diverting funds from core product innovation to backend fixes.

Fragmented data isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a barrier to Web3’s full potential. Without a unified, structured approach, inefficiencies will continue to compound, limiting scalability, profitability, and overall user experience.

Solution: Comprehensive Data Layers

Unmarshal provides an essential solution by offering a structured and accessible data layer. This layer goes beyond just collecting data — it organizes and refines blockchain data into easily consumable formats. Here’s how Unmarshal addresses the challenges:

Aggregating Across Chains: Unmarshal aggregates data from multiple blockchains into unified datasets. This allows users and developers to analyze cross-chain activity with accuracy and efficiency.
Real-Time Data Access: Unmarshal ensures that blockchain changes are reflected instantly in their APIs, providing real-time data access. This enables developers to build dApps that make real-time, data-driven decisions.
Customizable APIs: Unmarshal’s data infrastructure is highly customizable, allowing developers to integrate blockchain data in ways that meet the specific needs of their applications. This provides a more tailored experience for dApp users.

Elevating Data Access with RAG

Building on these comprehensive data layers, Unmarshal takes querying blockchain data to the next level with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This integration combines AI-driven insights with precise data retrieval, offering real-time, context-rich results that extend beyond raw data. With RAG, you’ll be able to ask questions in plain language and get actionable insights instantly, without needing to write complex code. This advancement will allow developers to execute more intelligent queries, transforming the interaction with blockchain data and enabling more advanced, intuitive dApp functionalities. Stay tuned!

Unmarshal: Bridging the Gap

Unmarshal exemplifies the power of structured, real-time blockchain data. By transforming raw blockchain information into accessible, real-time insights, Unmarshal bridges the gap between fragmented data and actionable intelligence.

Tailored Data Access: Unmarshal provides developers with comprehensive APIs that cover key areas such as DeFi, NFTs, and transaction history. Whether you’re building a DeFi app or tracking NFT sales, Unmarshal ensures you have the data you need. Notably, Unmarshal has created over 250 parsers, enhancing data retrieval across multiple chains.
Simplified User Experience: With APIs that provide easily understandable data formats, developers can create more user-friendly applications, improving adoption and user experience. This commitment to usability has attracted a thriving developer community, with over 5,000 developers utilizing Unmarshal’s data infrastructure.
Scalable Infrastructure: Unmarshal’s infrastructure supports large-scale blockchain data processing, making it easy to scale dApps as they grow. This is particularly important in high-demand sectors like DeFi and NFTs, where real-time data is crucial. To date, Unmarshal has processed over 11 billion requests, demonstrating its capability to handle substantial data loads efficiently.

The Future of Blockchain Data

Fragmented data streams are becoming a thing of the past. As Web3 continues to evolve, the need for comprehensive, real-time data will only grow stronger. Unmarshal is leading the way by providing the infrastructure developers need to build intelligent, data-driven applications.

The move toward structured, actionable blockchain data isn’t just a technical upgrade, it’s a necessity. With Unmarshal’s powerful data layers and RAG integration, developers can build dApps that make the most of real-time blockchain insights, improving user experiences and driving the next wave of innovation in DeFi, NFTs, GameFi, and beyond.

About Unmarshal

UnmarshalAI is a leading decentralized multi-chain data network, enabling Web3 projects to access accurate, real-time blockchain data across 50+ blockchains, including Ethereum, Base, Optimism, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Mode Network, and Fantom, making it one of the most versatile Web3 data providers.

Leveraging AI-driven solutions, Unmarshal enhances data accessibility and insights for RWA, DePIN, AI Agents, DeFi, NFT, and GameFi platforms. Through robust APIs, notification services, and no-code indexers, it empowers dApps to deliver seamless user experiences while ensuring transparency, scalability, and innovation at the forefront of Web3 advancements.