Editorial StaffGoogle will launch a new service called the Blockchain Node Engine. It enables Web3 developers to host blockchain nodes in its cloud, beginning with the Ethereum network.
Google Cloud earlier announced the development of a cryptocurrency and other digital asset-focused special team. Their node engine appears to be the first of many.
Google aims to provide web3 solutions such as one-click deployable blockchain nodes, its own validator nodes, take part in on-chain governance mechanisms, and blockchain data access services through Google BigQuery.
Google has picked Ethereum as the first smart-contracts platform for the launch of the Blockchain Node Service. However, beyond Ethereum, the company intends to broaden its service to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Dash, Litecoin, Zcash, Theta, Hedera Hashgraph, Band Protocol, IoTeX, Polygon, XRP, and Dogecoin networks.
Google hopes to make lives of Web3 developers and businesses easier. Maintaining a blockchain node is no easy task. Aside from the cost, getting in sync with the rest of the network is a time-consuming and often painful exercise. With the Google Node Engine, everything should be accomplished with a single click. Likewise, from a security point of view, users of the service will be able to benefit from all the protections from cyber attacks such as DDoS.
While some argue that this is beneficial for the industry as it yields mainstream recognition and increases adoption, the others argue that letting tech titans like Google and Amazon have such a large stake in Web3 can weaken its key characteristic, decentralization.
Damodar Kalyan
