Decentralised applications rely on external data to operate correctly, but getting that data on-chain in a secure, fast, and flexible way is no easy task.
Oracles fill this gap, but many existing options are slow, inflexible, or centralised. Switchboard aims to change that. This article explores how Switchboard works, why it’s different, and how developers and dApps can benefit from using it.
What is Switchboard?
Switchboard is a permissionless, customisable oracle network designed to connect smart contracts with real-world data across multiple blockchains.
Launched in 2021, it began by serving the Solana ecosystem and has since grown into a widely trusted oracle solution integrated across more than 10 chains.
Today, it supports over 100 projects, including Kamino, Jito, and Solend, and handles hundreds of millions of data requests per week.
Unlike other Oracle solutions, Switchboard is open-source and designed for builders. Anyone can deploy a data feed without approval, delays, or sales barriers.
Its feeds are highly customisable, capable of aggregating data from other oracles such as Chainlink and Pyth, and offer support for randomness and Web2 data sources.
With a focus on speed, Switchboard delivers data updates in as little as 400 milliseconds, outperforming most competitors by a factor of four.
Switchboard is more than just another data provider. It’s a modular system offering verifiable randomness, a cross-chain aggregator, on-demand oracles, and secure infrastructure based on Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).
These features make it suitable for a wide range of use cases, from DeFi and gaming to prediction markets and NFT minting.
What are Its Core Components in Its Infrastructure?
Switchboard’s infrastructure is built on a set of core components that enable fast, secure, and customisable data delivery. These components work together to ensure decentralisation, verifiability, and performance.
1. Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs)
TEEs such as Intel SGX and AMD SEV form the backbone of Switchboard’s data integrity guarantees.
They allow oracle code to run in secure, isolated environments that can be cryptographically verified. This ensures that no rogue modifications are made to the code fetching and signing data. TEEs have also been adopted by other major platforms like Signal, Azure, and 1Password.
2. Oracle Queues
An Oracle Queue is a secure subnetwork within the protocol that manages which oracles can respond to specific data feeds. Each feed belongs to a single queue, providing isolation and control.
Queues serve as registries and security boundaries, ensuring only verified oracle nodes contribute to data feeds.
3. Node Architecture
Switchboard’s decentralised network is composed of several node types:
- Guardians: Verify SGX attestations, validate oracle code, and act as gatekeepers.
- Oracles: Fetch and sign data using verified software images.
- Routers: Manage traffic and assign tasks to workers, helping prevent denial of service attacks.
- Workers: Execute tasks and fetch data for Oracle feeds.
4. Oracle Aggregator
This component allows developers to fetch data from multiple oracle sources, including Chainlink and Pyth, in a single transaction. This boosts accuracy, resilience, and trustworthiness by reducing reliance on a single provider.
5. Randomness Engine
For use cases requiring unpredictability, such as gaming or fair NFT minting, Switchboard offers verifiable randomness powered by TEEs. The values generated are cryptographically provable and available directly on-chain.
6. Crossbar Utility Server
Crossbar is a support tool for developers and bots. It provides real-time feed simulations, IPFS job storage, and encoded updates for various blockchains. While a public instance is available, users are encouraged to run their instance to avoid rate limits.
7. Jito Restaking Integration
To further enhance security, Switchboard integrates with Jito Node Consensus Networks on Solana. This mechanism leverages staked assets to improve decentralisation and potentially reward users, while reinforcing the integrity of oracle feeds.
How Does It Help Decentralised Applications?
Switchboard provides decentralised applications with reliable, real-time access to data that would otherwise be unavailable on-chain. This is crucial for protocols in decentralised finance (DeFi), gaming, governance, and more.
Key benefits include:
- Real-Time Price Feeds:
Developers can integrate Switchboard data feeds to track asset prices in milliseconds, essential for trading platforms, lending protocols, and stablecoins.
- Custom Feed Creation:
Unlike oracles that require central approval, Switchboard enables users to create new feeds instantly. Developers can define data sources, update frequency, and even write custom logic for calculations.
- Verifiable Randomness:
Fairness and unpredictability are vital in games, lotteries, and raffles. Switchboard randomness ensures outcomes are secure and transparent.
- Oracle Aggregation:
Switchboard combines data from multiple Oracle providers. This reduces the risk of relying on a single data source, which may be inaccurate or manipulated.
- Private and Efficient Data:
With on-demand data pulling and TEEs, Switchboard ensures that Oracle operators cannot front-run or tamper with feed results. Data is fetched and delivered only when needed, reducing cost and latency.
- Robust for Cross-Chain Use:
With deployments across Solana, Ethereum, and other networks, Switchboard provides a unified experience for multi-chain developers. Its infrastructure is built to be synchronised and secure across all these environments.
- High Uptime and Reliability:
Through its decentralised node architecture and oracle queues, Switchboard maintains high availability, even if individual nodes fail.
These capabilities make it suitable for a variety of applications:
- Lending and borrowing platforms like Solend
- DeFi protocol infrastructure like Kamino
- NFT and gaming platforms require fair randomness
- Prediction markets and automated betting systems
- Web2/Web3 bridges fetching weather data, event outcomes, or API-based metrics
With Switchboard, developers can eliminate the risk of data outages, latency, and manipulation by leveraging a fast and verifiable infrastructure. This empowers decentralised applications to function with greater accuracy, fairness, and efficiency across any blockchain environment.
How Can Developers Use It?
Switchboard is designed with developers in mind, offering tools and documentation that make it easy to integrate and customise.
To get started, developers can:
- Use the Builder App:
A web-based tool to browse existing feeds or create new ones without needing a backend setup. You can also experiment with live updates and logic settings.
- Deploy Feeds Permissionlessly:
No waiting or approvals. Just define the source, logic, and queue, and the feed goes live.
- Simulate Feeds with Crossbar:
Developers can test feed performance, update timing, and price aggregation using the Crossbar utility server. This is particularly helpful for bots or liquidators.
- Pull Data On-Demand:
Instead of maintaining a continuous stream, dApps can request fresh data only when needed, reducing resource use and latency.
- Aggregate Other Oracles:
Combine Chainlink, Pyth, and Switchboard feeds in one place for added redundancy and pricing accuracy.
- Access Detailed Integration Guides:
The documentation offers tutorials and code snippets for EVM chains, Solana, and other environments.
- Generate Verifiable Randomness:
Easily plug into Switchboard’s randomness module to bring provably fair outcomes into smart contracts.
Supported Data Types:
- Crypto and traditional asset prices (BTC, ETH, gold, stocks)
- Real-world events (weather, sports, elections)
- Web3 metrics (gas fees, lending rates, NFT floor prices)
- Custom API-based data
- Random numbers for use cases needing unpredictability
No matter the complexity of the application, Switchboard offers the flexibility, tools, and support to bring real-world data on-chain in a verifiable and timely way.
Conclusion
Switchboard is redefining what an oracle network can be: open, fast, and completely permissionless.
From randomness and data feeds to oracle aggregation and developer tools, it provides a comprehensive solution for builders who want full control over how their dApps interact with real-world data.
With sub-second latency, trusted infrastructure, and cross-chain support, Switchboard stands out not just as an oracle, but as a builder-focused data network for the decentralised future.
Whether you’re developing on Solana, Ethereum, or beyond, Switchboard gives you the flexibility and speed your application needs.