How to use Dune Analytics

Dune Analytics is an open-source platform that lets users query, analyze, and visualize blockchain data using SQL.

Jul 11, 2025 at 06:01 pm

What Is Dune Analytics?

Dune Analytics is a powerful open-source platform that enables users to query, analyze, and visualize blockchain data. It allows anyone with basic SQL knowledge to interact directly with blockchain datasets. The platform aggregates data from various blockchains such as Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, and more. Users can create dashboards, write custom queries, and share insights with the community.

Unlike traditional analytics tools, Dune provides direct access to raw blockchain data, making it an essential tool for developers, researchers, and analysts. Whether you're tracking token transfers, analyzing DeFi protocols, or monitoring NFT activity, Dune offers a flexible environment to explore on-chain behavior.

Setting Up Your Dune Analytics Account

To begin using Dune Analytics, you need to create an account. Visit the official Dune Analytics website and sign up using your email address or GitHub credentials. Once registered, you’ll gain access to a vast library of existing queries and dashboards created by other users.

After logging in, navigate to your profile settings to customize your preferences. You can connect your wallet to verify ownership of on-chain identities or projects. This step isn’t mandatory but can enhance your experience when sharing work related to specific smart contracts or tokens.

Writing and Executing Queries

The core functionality of Dune Analytics revolves around writing and executing SQL-based queries on blockchain datasets. To start, click on the "New Query" button. You'll be taken to an editor where you can input your SQL code.

For example, if you want to find all transactions involving a specific ERC-20 token, you would query the relevant contract’s transfer events table. Use the SELECT statement to choose which columns to display, and filter results using the WHERE clause. Make sure to reference the correct schema and table names available in the Dune database explorer.

Once your query is ready, click "Run Query" to execute it. Depending on the complexity and dataset size, this may take a few seconds. The results will appear below, and you can further refine your query based on these outputs.

Creating Dashboards and Visualizations

After running successful queries, the next step is to organize them into interactive dashboards. Dashboards allow you to combine multiple query results into a single view, complete with charts, tables, and descriptions.

To create a dashboard, go to the "Dashboards" section and select "New Dashboard." Give it a meaningful name and description. Then, use the "+" icon to add panels. Each panel corresponds to a query result, which can be visualized as a bar chart, line graph, pie chart, or table.

Customize each visualization by selecting the appropriate chart type and adjusting parameters like time range or aggregation method. Dashboards are particularly useful for tracking trends over time, comparing metrics across different protocols, or presenting findings to others in a clear format.

Exploring Community Contributions

One of the most valuable aspects of Dune Analytics is its thriving user community. Many experienced users publish their queries and dashboards publicly, covering topics ranging from gas usage analysis to yield farming performance.

Browse through the "Explore" section to discover shared content. Clicking on a query lets you view the underlying SQL code, which you can copy and modify for your own purposes. Similarly, dashboards often include detailed annotations that explain how data was gathered and interpreted.

You can also follow contributors whose work aligns with your interests. Engaging with community content accelerates learning and helps uncover new ways to approach blockchain data analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I schedule automatic updates for my Dune Analytics dashboards?

Yes, Dune supports scheduled refreshes for dashboards. In the dashboard settings, you can configure how often the data should update automatically. This feature ensures that your dashboards remain current without manual intervention.

2. How do I export query results or dashboard visuals from Dune Analytics?

Query results can be exported in CSV, JSON, or Excel formats by clicking the download icon. For dashboards, you can take screenshots or use browser extensions to capture visuals. Some premium plans offer enhanced export capabilities.

3. Are there any limitations on the number of queries or dashboards I can create?

Free accounts have certain limits on compute resources and storage, but they allow for a reasonable number of queries and dashboards. Paid plans provide additional capacity and faster execution times for heavy users.

4. How accurate is the data provided by Dune Analytics?

Dune pulls data directly from blockchain explorers and verified sources, ensuring high accuracy. However, discrepancies can occur due to delays in indexing or incorrect assumptions in query logic. Always validate critical findings independently.