Google LLC is making it easier for Web3 developers to get coding distributed blockchain apps with the launch of Blockchain Node Engine in Google Cloud, which hosts and deploys fully managed blockchain nodes in the cloud.

Blockchain technology is the basis of Web3, which is described as the next iteration of the web, also called the decentralized web, which allows applications to run across peer-to-peer networks instead of centralized services.

To make this happen, blockchain nodes hold a permanent history of the encrypted transactions that pass through the network. These nodes are constantly updating and stay in sync in order to maintain the integrity of the network.

Self-hosting and managing a blockchain node enable Web3 developers instant access to on-chain transactions, which lowers latency for decentralized apps, or dapps, and provides a large number of benefits such as higher reliability, performance and security. Direct access to blockchain data provides a way to swiftly read and write data directly to the blockchain, design and deploy smart contracts and monitor the health of dapps in real time.

By using the Blockchain Node Engine, Web3 developers can get all these benefits without the hassle of manually provisioning a node themselves. Ordinarily, launching a node can be a time-intensive process, even when it’s launched in the cloud because a “full node” requires downloading the entire history of a blockchain, which can take days. The Node Engine speeds this process because it can mirror the current state of the blockchain and begin synchronizing from there.

The Node Engine will begin by supporting Ethereum as the first blockchain and allow developers to fully provision Ethereum nodes. Ethereum is the second largest blockchain by market cap, compared to bitcoin. According to an Electric Capital Developer Report from 2021, Ethereum retains 30% of full-time developers who joined Web3 projects after 2017 and continues to have the largest ecosystem of tools, apps and protocols.

Ethereum developers will be able to take advantage of Google Cloud’s secure environment and prevent unauthorized access to nodes. With access to Google’s Virtual Private Cloud firewall, developers will be able to provide access for only trusted users and machines.

This news comes after Google Cloud announced the formation of a dedicated Digital Assets Team focused on blockchain technologies. The launch of the Node Engine is part of the team’s current initiatives in supporting the blockchain technology ecosystem for Google partners.

“While the world is still early in its embrace of Web3, it is a market that is already demonstrating tremendous potential with many customers asking us to increase our support for Web3 and crypto-related technologies,” Amit Zavery, vice president, general manager and head of platform at Google Cloud, said at the time.

This update to Google Cloud’s services follows Amazon Web Services adding Ethereum nodes to its Amazon Managed Blockchain services in March 2021, which provides similar services. Using the AWS-managed Ethereum nodes, developers can host blockchain ledgers and sync them to Web3 apps.

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