Deep Dive
1. MCP Servers & AI Agent Skills (11 June 2026)
Overview: This release introduces Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers and new skills for AI agents, allowing direct interaction with Subgraphs and Substreams. Users can now ask questions about on-chain data in everyday language without writing GraphQL or SQL.
The update significantly lowers the barrier to accessing blockchain data. By integrating with AI agent frameworks, it enables developers, analysts, and even non-technical users to retrieve real-time information—like wallet balances or token prices—through simple conversations, bypassing complex query languages and custom infrastructure.
What this means: This is bullish for GRT because it massively expands the potential user base. Making data accessible through natural language could drive a surge in query volume from AI applications and casual users, directly increasing network usage and fee generation. It turns The Graph from a developer tool into a universal data interface.
(The Graph)
2. Horizon Upgrade Mainnet Launch (11 December 2025)
Overview: The Horizon upgrade went live on mainnet, marking a fundamental shift in The Graph Network's architecture. It transitions the protocol from a single-service model (focused on Subgraphs) to a modular, multi-service data layer.
This change introduces a core staking and payments system that allows new data products—like real-time streams (Substreams) or pre-indexed APIs (Token API)—to be built on top of the same secure, GRT-powered foundation. It essentially creates a unified "rail" for diverse data services.
What this means: This is bullish for GRT because it unlocks new revenue streams and utility. The token is no longer just for Subgraph queries; it becomes the economic backbone for an entire ecosystem of data services. This should increase staking demand, token burns from new fee types, and solidify GRT's role as essential Web3 infrastructure.
(The Graph)
3. GraphOps Infrastructure & GRC-20 Updates (July–August 2025)
Overview: This period saw substantial backend development focused on network reliability and developer tooling. The GraphOps team released new Helm charts for node operators, fixed cross-chain block number issues, and implemented logic to accurately track GRT's circulating supply across layers.
Concurrently, the grc-20-ts library received multiple updates, including a major version bump to align with the GRC-20 v2 specification. These changes refined the encoding for creating and managing entities in The Graph's knowledge graph, removing deprecated functions and adding support for new data types and DAO space deployments.
What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for GRT. The infrastructure work ensures the network remains robust and scalable for growing demand, which is foundational. The GRC-20 updates show continued investment in their data composability standard, which could foster a richer ecosystem of structured on-chain information in the long term.
(GraphOps Update July 2025)
Conclusion
The Graph's development trajectory is clearly focused on expansion and accessibility: architecting a modular platform for future data services, breaking down technical walls with AI, and hardening core infrastructure. This positions GRT to capture value from a broader range of Web3 and AI use cases. How quickly will rising query volume from these new interfaces translate into sustainable protocol revenue?