---
url: https://www.helius.dev/docs/gatekeeper/overview
last_updated: 2026-09-02
---

# Gatekeeper (Beta)

Helius's high-performance edge gateway purpose-built for Solana. Gatekeeper removes Cloudflare from the critical path, terminating connections at geographically distributed edge locations — response-time improvements range from tens to hundreds of milliseconds.

Status: Public beta, opt-in, available to all users at no additional cost. Production-ready but still being optimized — test in development before switching production traffic. Slated to become the default endpoint as traffic migrates.

Note: the `beta.` hostname refers to the Gatekeeper rollout, not the maturity of the products served on it.

## Quick Reference

- HTTP: `https://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` (replaces `https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=...`)
- WebSocket: `wss://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` (replaces `wss://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=...`)
- Auth: existing API key via query param — no new key, no config changes
- Migration: pure URL swap (~5 minutes); rollback by switching back to `mainnet.helius-rpc.com`
- Responses: identical to the standard endpoints
- Pricing: no additional cost; existing plan applies
- Networks: Mainnet only (Devnet/Testnet coming soon)

## Supported

- All standard Solana RPC methods
- All Helius RPC extensions (e.g. getTransactionsForAddress)
- All WebSocket subscriptions — standard Solana plus Helius extensions (`transactionSubscribe`, enhanced `accountSubscribe`)
- DAS API, ZK Compression (Photon), Priority Fee API, Enhanced Transactions API

## Not Supported

- LaserStream gRPC — use the dedicated LaserStream endpoints instead: https://www.helius.dev/docs/laserstream/grpc.md

## Served Exclusively on Gatekeeper (WebSocket)

- Preconfirmations (`preconfSubscribe`): https://www.helius.dev/docs/pre-confirmations/overview.md
- Preprocessed Transactions (`preprocessedSubscribe` — the recommended path; a deprecated legacy gRPC feed remains on the LaserStream endpoints): https://www.helius.dev/docs/preprocessed-transactions/overview.md

## Troubleshooting

- 401: check the `?api-key=` query param
- No latency gain: test from production infrastructure, not local dev; check for 429 rate limits
- WebSocket failing: use `wss://`, not `ws://`

## Pages

- Overview: https://www.helius.dev/docs/gatekeeper/overview.md
- Migration guide: https://www.helius.dev/docs/gatekeeper/migration-guide.md

## Related

- Endpoints reference: https://www.helius.dev/docs/api-reference/endpoints.md
- Blog announcement: https://www.helius.dev/blog/introducing-gatekeeper

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Full documentation index: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt