--- title: "Migrating from AccountBalanceQuery: What You Need to Know" id: "21267" type: "post" slug: "migrating-from-accountbalancequery-what-you-need-to-know" published_at: "2026-02-13T20:57:59+00:00" modified_at: "2026-05-15T20:46:21+00:00" url: "https://hedera.com/blog/migrating-from-accountbalancequery-what-you-need-to-know/" markdown_url: "https://hedera.com/blog/migrating-from-accountbalancequery-what-you-need-to-know.md" excerpt: "The AccountBalanceQuery in the Hiero SDKs (and Hedera API) will be entirely removed in September 2026. A gradual throttle reduction begins in May 2026 to give developers time to transition. This post covers the rationale, timeline, and migration paths available..." taxonomy_category: - "Uncategorized" --- [Skip to content](#content) blog # Migrating from AccountBalanceQuery: What You Need to Know February 13, 2026 Ed Marquez Head of Developer Relations The **AccountBalanceQuery** in the Hiero SDKs (and Hedera API) will be entirely removed in September 2026. A gradual throttle reduction begins in June 2026 to give developers time to transition. This post covers the rationale, timeline, and migration paths available today. ### Why This Change? Usage patterns over time have revealed scalability challenges with **AccountBalanceQuery**. Each call places a load directly on consensus nodes, pulling them away from their core job of processing transactions and reaching consensus. As the network grows, that trade-off becomes harder to justify. Better alternatives already exist. Mirror Nodes and the upcoming Block Nodes are purpose-built for data queries, offering improved performance, lower costs, and no impact on consensus. This deprecation aligns with a broader architectural principle: consensus nodes handle consensus, and specialized infrastructure handles data access. ### Deprecation Timeline The throttle will be reduced gradually over six months: | Period | Throttle | Action | | --- | --- | --- | | June 2026 | 40,000 rps | Begin planning migration | | July 2026 | 20,000 rps | High-volume apps may see rate limiting | | August 2026 | 10,000 rps | Final migration window | | September 2026 | Removed | All requests will fail | This timeline applies equally to mainnet, testnet, and previewnet. ### Migration Paths ### Option 1: Mirror Node REST API (Available Now) The Mirror Node REST API is production-ready and provides cost-effective access to account balances without burdening consensus nodes. Queries are free on the Hedera-hosted mirror node (subject to throttles), and commercial providers offer paid plans for higher volumes. **Endpoint:** ``` GET https://mainnet.mirrornode.hedera.com/api/v1/balances?account.id={accountId} ``` Copy **Before (AccountBalanceQuery):** ``` const query = new AccountBalanceQuery() .setAccountId(accountId); const balance = await query.execute(client); ``` Copy **After (Mirror Node REST API):** ``` const response = await fetch( `https://mainnet.mirrornode.hedera.com/api/v1/balances?account.id=${accountId}` ); const data = await response.json(); const balanceInTinybars = data.balances[0].balance; ``` Copy Mirror Nodes also support token balance queries via the **/api/v1/accounts/{accountId}/tokens** endpoint. ### Option 2: Block Nodes and Block Streams (Coming Soon) For applications that require real-time balance updates, Block Streams offers an event-driven alternative. Based on [HIP-1056](https://hips.hedera.com/hip/hip-1056) and [HIP-1081](https://hips.hedera.com/hip/hip-1081) , Block Streams unify Hedera’s event, record, and sidecar streams into a single, efficient, verifiable data stream. Developers will be able to subscribe and filter for only the changes they care about. Block Nodes are actively under development. In the meantime, the Mirror Node REST API is the recommended path forward. ### How to Migrate **1. Audit your codebase.** Search for **AccountBalanceQuery** and **.getAccountBalance()** to identify every call site. **2. Choose a migration path.** Mirror Node REST API covers the vast majority of use cases today. **3. Test in testnet.** The Mirror Node testnet endpoint is available at **https://testnet.mirrornode.hedera.com/api/v1/balances?account.id={accountId}**. **4. Deploy before June 2026.** Completing the migration before the first throttle reduction reduces the risk of rate limiting. **5. Remove deprecated references.** Clean up all **AccountBalanceQuery** usage once the new integration is confirmed. ### Get Support & Start Today Experts and contributors across the ecosystem are available to help throughout this transition. The following resources are available to support you: **Documentation & Articles:** - [Mirror Node REST API Reference](https://docs.hedera.com/hedera/sdks-and-apis/rest-api) - [Balance Endpoints](https://docs.hedera.com/hedera/sdks-and-apis/rest-api/balances) - [Querying Data on Hedera: SDK vs Mirror Node REST API](https://hedera.com/blog/querying-data-on-hedera-sdk-vs-mirror-node-rest-api/) **Discord:** Ask migration questions in the [developer channels](https://hedera.com/discord) **Office Hours:** Monthly community calls and weekly Q&As **Hedera Developer Playground:** Try [this example](https://portal.hedera.com/playground/session/0.0.7784830/2) and see how to query account balances with the Mirror Node REST API. Start planning your migration today. For the latest updates, visit [docs.hedera.com](https://docs.hedera.com) . ### FAQs **Can applications still use AccountBalanceQuery today?** Yes. It remains fully functional through June 2026 at the 40,000 rps throttle. However, starting migration early is strongly recommended. **What happens if migration is not completed by June?** Applications exceeding the reduced throttle limits will experience rate limiting. After September 2026, all **AccountBalanceQuery** requests will fail. **Will Mirror Nodes have the same throttle limitations?** No. Mirror Nodes are designed for high-throughput query workloads. The Hedera-hosted mirror node offers free queries with specific throttles, and commercial providers offer higher limits through paid plans. **Is there a cost difference?** **AccountBalanceQuery** is currently free but burdens consensus nodes. 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