In a significant stride into the world of blockchain, Google Cloud has joined forces with Polygon's Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network as one of its decentralized validators. This announcement, made on September 29, positions the tech giant as one of the over 100 validators responsible for enhancing blockchain security, leveraging Google's renowned reputation for security services across various domains.
What makes this partnership even more noteworthy is that Polygon will harness the same robust infrastructure that powers Gmail and YouTube. This move is set to boost user confidence as the Ethereum layer 2 competition heats up.
As stated by Polygon, "The same infrastructure used to power @YouTube and @gmail is now helping to secure the fast, low-cost, Ethereum-for-all Polygon protocol."
The confirmation of this significant development came from Google Cloud Singapore's official account via a tweet: "We are now serving as a validator on the Polygon PoS network, contributing to the network's collective security, governance, and decentralization alongside 100+ other validators."
Google Cloud's role as a validator means it will actively participate in the network's governance, operate nodes, and stake MATIC tokens.
This collaboration is part of Google's broader vision for the blockchain ecosystem, marked by a series of key partnerships in recent months. In April, Google unveiled cloud services for Polygon's zkEVM scaling solution, extended support for app chains, and allocated a $200,000 Google Cloud credit fund for startups backed by Polygon.
One notable aspect is that Google Cloud is set to offer node engines and facilitate one-click deployment of nodes, a move that will undoubtedly expedite the adoption of core Polygon protocols, complemented by enterprise infrastructure and tools.
Polygon is not the sole beneficiary of Google's venture into distributed ledger technology (DLT). The company has initiated partnerships with Tezos, Solana, Ronin Network, and others.
In a further demonstration of its blockchain commitment, Google recently expanded its blockchain services on its BigQuery platform. The addition of 11 new networks, alongside existing ones like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum Classic, aims to provide developers with faster access to public data across multiple chains. This facilitates the development of decentralized applications (dApps) and the creation of smart contracts.
As Google affirms, "We're doing this because blockchain foundations, Web3 analytics firms, partners, developers, and customers tell us they want a more comprehensive view across the crypto landscape, and to be able to query more chains. They want to answer complex questions and verify subjective claims."
In a market marked by fierce competition and constant upgrades, including Ethereum's recent Holesky testnet launch to enhance scalability, Polygon is diligently working to offer more services and drive user adoption. Polygon 2.0, in particular, stands out as a significant step towards scalability, with the aim of creating the value layer of the internet. It's designed to support multiple chains, facilitating cross-chain transactions and liquidity without compromising network security and scalability.
