Google Cloud has recently unveiled the inclusion of 11 new blockchains in its ‘BigQuery’ program for datasets, aiming to facilitate convenient access to blockchain data.
In an official statement issued on September 21st, the company revealed the addition of the following 11 new networks: Avalanche, Near, Fantom, Optimism, Polygon, Polygon Mumbai Testnet, Tron, Cronos, Arbitrum, and Ethereum Görli Testnet.
The cloud service provider emphasized the importance of granting developers access to a diverse range of public datasets as they explore multiple blockchains.
“We’re taking this step in response to feedback from blockchain foundations, Web3 analytics companies, partners, developers, and customers. They’ve expressed their desire for a broader perspective within the cryptocurrency ecosystem and the ability to query a wider range of blockchains. Their aim is to address intricate queries and validate subjective assertions…”
James Tromas, the Head of Web3, and Alberto Martin, the Director of Web3 Product Management, elaborated on the shared desire of both developers and users for precise responses to crucial inquiries such as, “What is the daily count of NFTs minted across three particular blockchains?” “How do transaction fees vary among different blockchains?” and “What is the number of active wallets on the leading EVM chains?”
The objective is to broaden the spectrum of blockchain data available on BigQuery, enabling users to conduct off-chain queries on on-chain transaction history, gain insights into asset movements between wallets, and understand user interactions with smart contracts.
Additionally, the company highlighted its enhancement of the current blockchain dataset by incorporating Satoshis (sats) and Ordinals for developers.
Expansion for Developers:
Google Cloud initiated the provision of blockchain datasets back in 2018 with the introduction of the Bitcoin (BTC) Network, and approximately a year later, it incorporated Ethereum’s data.
Currently, the company boasts support for 21 different blockchains within its BigQuery program, encompassing cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, and more.
BigQuery functions as an online data repository, enabling users to extract specific information from stored data. Notably, Google Cloud has recently reaffirmed its commitment to increased investment in the blockchain space, establishing partnerships with lighting infrastructure company Voltage and Orderly Network to provide off-chain tools for decentralized applications.
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing crypto market downturn, the company remains true to its commitment to delivering more precise data. It has introduced User-Defined Functions (UDF) to facilitate smarter UNIT256 integration and has extended support for BIGNUMERIC. These enhancements will result in a higher level of precision when users access blockchain data, reducing the risk of errors during data computations.
Lastly, the company has restructured its approach to data access, moving away from the conventional model, which required users to acquire nodes and develop indexers before querying data. Instead, they have streamlined the process by enabling off-chain data querying, simplifying computation for users.
“This implies that customers can seamlessly access blockchain data just as they would with their own data. By integrating chain data with application data, customers can attain a comprehensive understanding of their users and their business operations.”
