How to connect to Zircuit RPC for smart contracts

Built with proof aggregation and a hybrid design, Zircuit is a zk rollup for Ethereum developers. Running smart contracts and processing transactions in real time requires stable RPC, and here’s how Dedicated Nodes on Chainstack make that possible.

Zircuit is a zk rollup built for Ethereum developers, combining proof aggregation with a hybrid architecture to keep gas fees low and smart contracts fully EVM compatible. It extends the Ethereum network while giving builders a secure environment to deploy production workloads.

Over time, Zircuit has become a strong choice for teams building DeFi protocols and liquid restaking tokens, with hundreds of millions already staked. The appeal is obvious: an EVM-compatible rollup designed to run production contracts safely and at scale, with RPC access as the entry point to start building.

But to understand why, let’s look closer at what it is and how it works.

What is Zircuit?

As mentioned, Zircuit uses a hybrid architecture with proof aggregation. A key differentiator is Sequencer Level Security (SLS), an AI-powered layer at the sequencer that inspects transactions in real time and can quarantine suspicious activity before block inclusion.

When building, this comes in handy because this closes the gap where many exploits occur, improves ordering predictability, and keeps costs in check while staying fully EVM compatible. Add modular proof aggregation that rolls subproofs into a single validity proof, plus faster settlement once proofs verify, and you get a rollup that can handle production workloads without forcing you to change your Ethereum toolchain.

The result is a rollup tuned for jobs where security and timing decide outcomes. That covers DeFi protocols chasing reliable order flow, restaking projects moving large sums, and systems that trigger on live data or automated execution.

Choosing Your Connection: Public vs. Private Zircuit RPC Endpoints

The choice between public and private access completely depends on what you’re building. Public endpoints are fine for testing and lighter workloads, though they can run into rate limits or inconsistent latency. For production-grade dApps or financial protocols, a private RPC provides the stable throughput and uptime needed to handle traffic at scale.

To help you decide, here’s a quick comparison:

While public RPC is fine to start with, it won’t hold up once you’re shipping to real users or moving size. At that point, you can either spin up your own node or go with a provider like Chainstack if you want less overhead, more features, and flat-fee pricing that stays predictable. So in the next section, let’s take a look at the costs.

How much does it cost to run a Zircuit RPC?

If you host it yourself, running an OP Stack–based node for Zircuit means covering hardware, bandwidth, storage, and ongoing maintenance. Also, there’s no full node guide in the docs yet. Costs swing depending on your setup and the level of redundancy you need, which is why most teams choose a provider instead of rolling their own.

With providers, you’ll usually see usage-based or tiered pricing. On Chainstack, that means a Dedicated Node paired with a Pro plan at a flat monthly rate. It’s simpler to budget, and you don’t have to worry about surprise overages.

To get an estimate, explore the pricing options here and see what fits your project.

How to get a private Zircuit RPC URL

So you’ve decided to move to a private RPC. That’s a good call — once you’re dealing with real users or moving capital, stability matters more than anything. If you go with Chainstack, you get a Zircuit node that runs in its own secure environment, backed by 99.9% uptime, and it speaks standard JSON-RPC so it drops right into Hardhat, Foundry, ethers.js, or web3.py.

How to set up a Zircuit RPC in a wallet or app

To connect directly, add Zircuit as a custom network in your wallet or dev tooling:

Mainnet

• Chain ID: 48900
• RPC URL: https://mainnet.zircuit.com
• Currency symbol: ETH
• Explorer: https://explorer.zircuit.com

Garfield Testnet

• Chain ID: 48898
• RPC URL: https://garfield-testnet.zircuit.com

You can also add Zircuit through Chainlist for a one-click setup. And if you’re using a Chainstack Dedicated Node, replace the public RPC URL with your private endpoint once it’s provisioned (it will work with the same settings).

Wrapping up

We’ve walked through what Zircuit brings to the table, how its RPC endpoints fit in, and the choices you have for connecting. If you’re building DeFi, liquid restaking, or anything that depends on predictable sequencing and steady infra, the RPC setup is where it all starts.

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• Discover how you can save thousands in infra costs every month with our unbeatable pricing on the most complete Web3 development platform.
• Input your workload and see how affordable Chainstack is compared to other RPC providers.
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