• Google continues its move into Web3 and crypto with the launch of the Google cloud blockchain node engine.
• This blockchain node engine is a fully managed service as opposed to self-managed nodes, which require constant management and are difficult to manage.

After its recent partnership with Coinbase crypto exchange, Google has achieved another crypto-related feat. This time the search engine giant has launched a Google cloud blockchain node engine. The move indicates Google’s intentions to keep exploring the Web3 and crypto world.

According to the announcement on Thursday, Google’s cloud-based node engine (known as the blockchain node engine) would be for Ethereum developers. Head of Web3 product services on Google cloud, James Tromans, commented that the new node engine has a lot of advantages over other node providers.

Tromans added that the blockchain node engine allows developers to retain the configurability in their nodes, and they won’t share nodes with several other customers. According to him, the opposite is the case with competing node providers. Tromans also explained that Google would extend the blockchain node engine’s support for other chains in addition to Ethereum in the future.

A solution to self-managed nodes’ issues

Per the announcement, the design of the blockchain node engine makes it a fully managed service node. This is a contrast to self-managed nodes, where there is always difficulty in deploying them and requiring frequent management. Hence, developers can track the nodes in real-time. Then, if there are any issues, they can restart the nodes.

Deploying a node with Google’s blockchain node engine is more secure, easier, and faster. Hence, this node engine would be hugely attractive to developers. It will allow them to focus on scaling and innovating their Web3 applications instead of worrying about which blockchain node hosting service they can use.

Google Cloud executives explained the reason for this launch:

Web3 firms that need custom nodes can expect security, reliability, and performance from this node blockchain like other Google cloud compute and network infrastructure. Hence, it becomes easier and faster for them to read or write blockchain data, relay transactions and deploy smart contracts.

Google and crypto-related initiatives

Google has launched several crypto-related projects since the start of this year. For example, a few weeks ago, Google and Coinbase partnered to enable Google cloud users to use digital assets to pay for their cloud services.

By the beginning of next year, Google cloud will start accepting digital currency payments from some Web3 developers through Coinbase’s commerce service. In addition, data from Blockdata (a crypto analytics platform) and CB Insights (a crypto market intelligence platform) states that Alphabet (Google’s parent firm) already has an investment of $1.5 billion in various crypto and blockchain firms.

Such firms include Dapper Labs, Digital Currency Group, Voltage, and Fireblocks. Earlier in the year, multiple reports confirm Google now has a unit whose sole focus is to research innovative technologies about crypto assets, including blockchain technology.

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