Google already has the Ethereum and Solana blockchains in its node hosting service

Source: Observatorioblockchain / Jennifer Maldonado

Google has become Solana’s validator, thus reinforcing its commitment to blockchain and Web3 technology. The company reported that in addition to running a node on this blockchain, it will integrate Solana into its Blockchain Node Engine node hosting service, developed for Web3 applications, in 2023. 

Through this service, Google will allow Solana developers to host fully managed nodes to relay transactions, implement contracts, and much more. In this way, the company will make it easier for Solana developers to manage their nodes. The Blockchain Node Engine was launched at the end of last month and until now, the only blockchain network that supports this service was Ethereum. 

Google launches node hosting for Web3 applications on Ethereum

Google Solana 

Google Cloud reported its partnership with Solana via its Twitter account, citing Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko. The internet products and services company noted that it ran a network node on Solana to participate in validating its transactions. Google says that it intends to help Solana developers focus on innovating and scaling their Web3 applications, rather than having to spend much of their time operating and monitoring nodes. 

BigQuery

In addition to partnering with Solana, Google also reported that it will bring this blockchain network to its BigQuery service, dedicated to massive data storage. Google noted that the integration will help Solana developers easily access historical data. In this way, Google will help the development of new applications focused on Web3 and strengthen the blockchain ecosystem of this network. 

Despite the performance and operability problems that Solana has faced, large companies continue to adopt its applications. In May, Meta Platforms, the leading social media company, announced that it would integrate support for NFT collections from various blockchain networks; Solana among them. Earlier this month, Instagram rolled out new features to allow its creators to buy and sell NFT tokens from the platform. Likewise, Twitter is also using the Solana blockchain to offer NFT services to its users, through its Magic Eden platform. Twitter has also integrated support for other non-fungible token markets based on other blockchains. 

Centralization

The adoption of blockchain applications and networks by these giants has been largely positive for cryptocurrency technology. Companies like Google, Meta, and Twitter can help massify the blockchain ecosystem, encouraging millions of people around the world to use and adopt this new technology. However, many people criticize the centralization that these alliances entail, since they go against the principles by which Bitcoin was created.

Crypto payments with Coinbase

In mid-October, Google signed an alliance with the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, one of the most important companies in the industry. As a result of this alliance, Google revealed that payments with crypto assets will soon arrive on its platform. Specifically, the company will use Coinbase services to enable crypto assets as payment options in its technology solutions. As Blockchain Observatory reported, the adoption of cryptocurrency payments in Google Cloud will improve the experience of the company’s customers and partners. At the same time, Google will be able to increase the number of payment options it offers through its cloud services.

Alphabet, parent company of Google, the largest Web3 investor of the year: $1,506 million

Google’s immersion in blockchain technology and Web3 has been reinforced this year. The internet giant has become a validator for various blockchains, such as Theta Network, Ronin Network, and the DLT-based network Hedera Hashgraph. The internet company has even invested in major Web3 companies such as Dapper Labs, Digital Currency Group, Fireblocks and Voltage; becoming the largest investor in Web3-related projects so far this year.