Queries to Insights: Visualizing Starknet Data with Dune

Starknet's on-chain data offers a wealth of insights into its blockchain ecosystem. It provides a comprehensive view of user activity, transaction patterns, and network interactions, allowing analysts to discover valuable trends and behaviors. The ability to analyze on-chain data is important for making informed decisions, optimizing protocols, and identifying emerging opportunities within the network.

This article will guide you through transforming raw Starknet data into compelling visual narratives using Dune. We'll explore leveraging Dune's powerful querying capabilities and visualization tools to create dynamic, interactive dashboards that bring Starknet's on-chain data to life.

What is Starknet?

Starknet is an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) designed to deliver high transaction throughput and low costs while maintaining Ethereum's core principles. Starknet uses Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology, specifically ZK-STARK proofs, to verify transaction validity off-chain before committing them to the Ethereum mainnet.

Starknet's Architecture

Starknet's architecture is built to optimize the Ethereum ecosystem:

• Scalability: By processing transactions off-chain and then batching them for submission to Ethereum, Starknet significantly increases the network's capacity.
• Cost Efficiency: The reduced computational load on Ethereum translates to lower gas fees for users.
• Security: ZK-STARK proofs ensure that all transactions are valid without revealing sensitive information, maintaining high security.
• Compatibility: Starknet is designed to work seamlessly with Ethereum, allowing developers to build scalable applications that benefit from Ethereum's established ecosystem.

The Value of Starknet Data

Starknet's on-chain data is a goldmine of information for various stakeholders in the blockchain space:

• Developers: Can analyze transaction patterns to optimize their dApps and smart contracts.
• Investors: Gain insights into user adoption, token flows, and emerging trends.
• Researchers: Study the effectiveness of L2 solutions and their impact on the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
• Protocol Designers: Use data to identify bottlenecks and improve network efficiency.
• Market Analysts: Track the growth of the Starknet ecosystem and its integration with DeFi and other blockchain applications.

By analyzing Starknet's on-chain data, we can gain valuable insights into the network's health, user behavior, and the adoption of Layer 2 solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem.

What is Dune?

Dune is a powerful blockchain data analytics platform that enables users to query, visualize, and share insights from various blockchain networks, including Starknet. By leveraging Dune's capabilities for Starknet analysis, you can:

• Query Complex Data: Use Dune SQL to query and extract Starknet's on-chain data, allowing for deep dives into specific metrics and trends.
• Create Dynamic Visualizations: Transform raw data into intuitive charts, graphs, and tables that make complex blockchain information understandable.
• Develop Compelling Dashboards: Combine multiple queries and visualizations to create holistic views of Starknet's ecosystem, monitoring key real-time performance indicators.
• Track Ecosystem Metrics: Monitor essential data points such as daily active addresses, transaction volumes, gas usage, and smart contract interactions.
• Analyze Token Flows: Gain insights into token transfers, liquidity pools, and trading patterns within the Starknet network.
• Collaborate and Share: Leverage Dune's community features to build upon existing queries, share your findings, and contribute to the collective understanding of Starknet's performance.

Key Starknet Data Points

Let's explore some of the key areas where we can extract valuable insights on Starknet:

• Transaction Data: Information about each transaction, including unique identifiers, involved addresses, transferred values, gas fees, and timestamps. This helps understand network usage patterns and economic activity.
• Block Data: Provides a structural overview of the blockchain, including block numbers, hashes, timestamps, and transaction counts. This helps analyze network growth and validate the chain's integrity.
• Smart Contract Data: Information about deployed contracts and their current state helps developers and analysts study decentralized application (dApp) usage and smart contract interactions.
• Account Data: This includes account balances and transaction counters (nonce), giving a view of user activity and asset distribution across the network.
• Rollup-Specific Data: Unique to Layer 2 solutions like Starknet, this includes ZK-STARK proofs and state updates, which are important for understanding the roll-up mechanism's efficiency and security.
• Token Data: Tracks the creation, transfer, and usage of various tokens on the network, including both fungible and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
• Protocol Metrics: Provides insights into the overall health and performance of the network, including total value locked (TVL), daily active users, and transaction throughput.
• Interoperability Data: Captures cross-chain interactions and bridge usage information, highlighting Starknet's connection to the broader Ethereum ecosystem.

Starknet Resources on Dune

Dune provides a growing selection of Starknet-specific queries and dashboards, offering valuable insights into the ecosystem. One standout resource is the Caravanserai page, featuring in-depth dashboards and queries of various Starknet metrics: https://dune.com/caravanserai

For more Starknet-related content, use Dune's search function to discover queries, dashboards, and contributors: https://dune.com/discover/content/relevant?q=starknet. As Starknet evolves, we can expect these analytics resources on Dune to expand, offering even deeper insights into its on-chain data.

Visualizing Data with Dune Dashboards

Dune dashboards are a powerful tool for visualizing and presenting blockchain data in an intuitive, interactive format. These dashboards allow you to create comprehensive analytical tools by combining various data visualization widgets and explanatory text. Key features include:

• Versatile Widgets: You can use various visualization types such as charts, graphs, tables, and metrics to represent data effectively.
• Text Integration: Explanatory text widgets can be added to your data visualizations to provide context, analysis, or instructions.
• Multimedia Support: Images and GIFs can be embedded within text widgets, enhancing your dashboard's visual appeal and clarity.
• Customization: Dashboards are highly customizable, allowing you to arrange widgets and create a cohesive design that best communicates your insights.
• Sharing and Collaboration: Easily share your dashboards with others or collaborate on their development.

Creating Dune Dashboards

To create a new dashboard on Dune:

1. Open the "Create" dropdown menu in Dune's navigation bar

2. Choose "New Dashboard" from the options

3. Enter a descriptive name that reflects your dashboard's focus

4. Click "Save and Open" to create your dashboard

5. Click "Edit" to modify the dashboard and add visualizations

6. Click "Add Visualization" and search for queries to visualize

7. Click "Add" next to each query you want to include

8. Click "Done" to finalize your dashboard setup

After adding queries and arranging the visualizations, your dashboard might resemble the following example:

Important: Dune dashboards are not real-time. To view the latest Starknet data and keep your analysis current:

• Refresh the dashboard by clicking the Run button in the top right corner.
• Update specific widgets using their refresh icons for dashboards with multiple queries.
• Leverage Dune's scheduling feature to automate regular updates for key queries.
• Consider performance impact when refreshing frequently, especially for complex queries.

Best Practices

The following best practices will help you design insightful, accessible, and engaging dashboards that maximize the value of Dune:

• Group related metrics: For intuitive navigation, organize by categories such as network activity, economics, and performance.
• Prioritize key metrics: Focus on the most important data points to maintain clarity and prevent information overload.
• Maintain visual consistency: Use similar chart types for related data and a cohesive color scheme.
• Leverage interactivity: Implement filters, parameters, and drill-down options for in-depth exploration.
• Optimize layout: Arrange widgets logically, placing the most important data in prominent positions.
• Provide context: Add concise text explanations to help users interpret data and understand its significance.
• Ensure performance: Optimize query efficiency and widget loading for a smooth user experience.
• Share and collaborate: Share your dashboard and engage with the community by forking existing dashboards.
• Enhance discoverability: Use clear titles and descriptions to make your dashboard discoverable in Dune
• Clarify data freshness: Communicate the update frequency for time-sensitive analysis and consider including a Last Updated timestamp.

Conclusion

In this article, we've covered the basics of Starknet and why its data is so valuable, explored Dune, and demonstrated how to find and visualize key resources. We've also learned how to create and manage dashboards for Starknet's unique data landscape.

If you're interested in analyzing Starknet data, finding opportunities in the ecosystem, or sharing valuable insights, join our MEV discussion group to connect with like-minded individuals.