Ink API Quickstart

Introduction

Ink is a cutting-edge Layer 2 blockchain solution developed by Kraken, designed to bridge centralized and decentralized finance. Built on the OP Stack within the Optimism Superchain ecosystem, Ink offers sub-second block times, optimized gas fees, and high performance. It aims to simplify DeFi access, leveraging Kraken’s established infrastructure while inheriting Ethereum’s robust security.

What is the Ink API?

The Ink API allows interaction with the Ink network through a set of JSON-RPC methods. Its design is familiar to developers who have worked with Ethereum’s JSON-RPC APIs, making it intuitive and straightforward to use.

Getting Started Instructions

1. Choose a Package Manager (npm or yarn)

Select a package manager to manage your project’s dependencies. Choose between npm and yarn based on your preference or project requirements.

2. Set Up Your Project

Open your terminal and execute the following commands to create and initialize your project:

$
mkdir ink-api-quickstart
>
cd ink-api-quickstart
>
npm init --yes

$
mkdir ink-api-quickstart
>
cd ink-api-quickstart
>
yarn init --yes

This creates a new directory named ink-api-quickstart and initializes a Node.js project within it.

3. Make Your First Request

Install Axios, a popular HTTP client, to make API requests:

$
npm install axios
>
# Or with yarn
>
# yarn add axios

Create an index.js file in your project directory and paste the following code:

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const axios = require('axios');
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const url = 'https://ink-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/${your-api-key}';
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const payload = {
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  jsonrpc: '2.0',
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  id: 1,
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  method: 'eth_blockNumber',
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  params: []
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};
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axios.post(url, payload)
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  .then(response => {
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    console.log('Latest Block:', response.data.result);
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  })
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  .catch(error => {
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    console.error(error);
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  });

Remember to replace your-api-key with your actual Alchemy API key that you can get from your Alchemy dashboard.

4. Run Your Script

Execute your script to make a request to the Ink mainnet:

$
node index.js

You should see the latest block information from Ink’s mainnet outputted to your console:

$
Latest Block: 0x...

Next Steps

Congratulations! You’ve made your first request to the Ink network. You can now explore the various JSON-RPC methods available on Ink and start building your dApps on this innovative platform.