Dune, a leading blockchain data platform, has announced the full launch of Sim, a multi-chain real-time developer platform designed to provide scalable APIs for onchain applications. The service, now live at sim.dune.com, initially focuses on wallet and portfolio data across 60+ blockchains, offering a unified endpoint for developers.
From Analytics to Infrastructure: Dune's Strategic Pivot
Founded in 2018, Dune began as a tool to democratize access to blockchain analytics through SQL queries and dashboards. Its community-driven approach made it a hub for tracking protocols, hacks, and market trends, attracting millions of users.
However, as the crypto market evolved, developers increasingly demanded faster data access. “Crypto never sleeps,” the company noted, highlighting the need for real-time liquidity alerts, NFT mint updates, and trading signals. Dune's existing infrastructure, while robust for analytics, faced limitations in speed.
Sim's Technology and Core Features
Sim, codenamed Echo during its 2024 beta phase, addresses this gap. It leverages technology from sim.io, acquired via smIXL, to deliver low-latency data streams. The platform aims to eliminate trade-offs between depth and speed, enabling apps to integrate live blockchain states seamlessly.
The APIs target enterprises, startups, and institutions building trading algorithms, risk models, and consumer-facing apps. “Accessibility isn’t just for analysts—it’s for builders at scale,” Dune's blog post explains.
Impact on Onchain Development
Sim marks Dune’s expansion beyond analytics into real-time infrastructure. The company reaffirmed its mission to “make crypto data accessible,” positioning Sim as critical for the next wave of onchain innovation. By lowering the barrier for integrating live blockchain data, Dune aims to accelerate the development of decentralized applications, risk management tools, and algorithmic trading systems.