Free Proxies That Support Web3 and Crypto APIs

The Liminal Gateways: Free Proxies in the Web3 & Crypto API Cosmos

The Anatomy of Web3-Ready Proxies

In the undulating landscape of blockchain, where nodes whisper secrets across continents and APIs pulse with encrypted truths, the intermediary—the proxy—becomes a silent architect. To serve the decentralized realm, a proxy must transcend the ordinary: it must deftly handle HTTPS, respect CORS headers, and—crucially—bypass rate limits or geofencing. Not every proxy is anointed with such powers.

Technical Criteria:

A Curated Pantheon: Free Proxies for Web3 & Crypto

Public HTTP/S Proxy Lists

The internet brims with public HTTP/S proxies, but only a select few are fit for blockchain’s needs. Here, the discerning user must don the mask of the flâneur, navigating with care:

• ProxyScrape (HTTPS Only)
• Regularly updated, with checks for anonymity.

• Example usage (Python/Requests):

  “`python
  import requests

  proxy = “http://51.158.68.133:8811”
  api_url = “https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/ping”

  response = requests.get(api_url, proxies={“https”: proxy}, timeout=10)
  print(response.json())
  “`

• Spys.one (Filterable by HTTPS, Anonymity)

• A baroque interface, best navigated with patience.
• Copy-paste entries, vet for uptime.

CORS Proxies for Browser-based DApps

APIs like Infura or Alchemy for Ethereum may not permit direct browser requests due to CORS. Enter the CORS proxy—an ephemeral bridge:

• cors-anywhere
• Usage: Prefix your API endpoint with the proxy.

• Example:

  javascript
const url = "https://cors-anywhere.herokuapp.com/https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=ethereum&vs_currencies=usd";
fetch(url)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(console.log);

• Note: Free version is rate-limited and sometimes requires requesting temporary access.

WebSocket-Friendly Proxies

Many blockchains (Ethereum, BNB Chain) offer WebSocket endpoints for real-time data. Free WebSocket proxies are rare; most public proxies do not tunnel WS traffic reliably. However, an alternative exists in community-run relay nodes:

• Chainstack Free Ethereum Mainnet Node (WebSocket)
• Example endpoint: wss://nd-123-456-789.p2pify.com
• Use directly; no proxy needed, but acts as a public intermediary.

Rotating Proxy APIs

When scraping or querying rate-limited crypto APIs, rotating proxies become essential. Some services offer limited free tiers:

• ScraperAPI (1000 free requests/month)
• Supports HTTPS, rotates IPs, bypasses basic blocks.

• Example:

  “`python
  import requests

  api_url = “https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin&vs_currencies=usd”
  proxy_url = f”http://api.scraperapi.com?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&url={api_url}”

  response = requests.get(proxy_url)
  print(response.json())
  ``
- ReplaceYOUR_API_KEY` with your free key (registration required).

• Proxy-List.Download API

• Returns fresh HTTPS proxies in plaintext.
• Use with random selection and validation.

Table: Proxy Solutions—A Comparison

Practical Patterns: Integrating Proxies with Web3 Libraries

Using a Proxy with web3.py (Ethereum)

from web3 import Web3

proxy = "http://51.158.68.133:8811"
provider = Web3.HTTPProvider(
    "https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY",
    request_kwargs={"proxies": {"https": proxy}}
)
w3 = Web3(provider)
print(w3.eth.block_number)

Proxying JSON-RPC Calls via curl

curl -x http://51.158.68.133:8811      -H "Content-Type: application/json"      -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_blockNumber","params":[],"id":1}'      https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY

Caveats and Rituals of Maintenance

• Validation: Always check proxy uptime before integration. Use tools like curl or Proxy Checker.
• Security: Avoid relaying sensitive credentials (e.g., private keys, mnemonics) through free proxies.
• Ethical Use: Free proxies may be abused; honor their ephemeral nature and avoid overloading them.
• Performance: Free proxies tend to be slower and less reliable than paid counterparts. For production, consider hybrid models.

Further Reading

• Ethereum JSON-RPC API Specification
• Web3.js Documentation
• CryptoCompare API Docs
• Public Blockchain Node Providers (for direct, non-proxy access)