Share this article
Microsoft Unveils New Blockchain Tools for Azure
Microsoft announced a new "scaffolding" toolkit through its Azure Blockchain Workbench, which can help developers quickly build applications.
By Nikhilesh De
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 7:55 a.m. Published May 7, 2018, 4:30 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Microsoft announced the Azure Blockchain Workbench Monday, releasing a new set of tools for developers that work with distributed ledger tech.
The Workbench provides "the scaffolding for an end-to-end blockchain application," and can be set up "with just a few simple clicks," according to the announcement. Put more simply, Microsoft is trying to streamline the method by which companies and their development teams can build apps on top of Azure-based blockchains.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
"Today, we’re excited to announce the public preview release of Azure Blockchain Workbench, a new offering that can reduce application development time from months to days," Azure general manager Matthew Kerner wrote in a blog post published Monday.
Kerner added:
"Workbench gets customers started quickly by automating infrastructure setup, so developers can focus on application logic, and business owners can focus on defining and validating their use cases."
Some of the firm's existing partners have already taken advantage of the Workbench, Microsoft announced, including Israel's Bank Hapoalim, food distributor Nestle and "quote-to-cash" software producer Apttus.
Stepping back, the move is just the latest for the technology giant, which has joined several blockchain-focused partnerships in the last few months.
The company is working with Hyperledger, the United Nations, research consortium R3 and Cornell University's Blockchain Research Group to study different aspects of blockchain technology.
Outside of those group efforts, Microsoft has shown interest in the technology for digital identity purposes, as previously reported.
Microsoft image via Volodymyr Kyrylyuk / Shutterstock
More For You
Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.
What to know:
Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.
The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.
More For You
Anthony Scaramucci-linked AVAX One tumbles 32% on uncertainty around shareholder sales
The firm, which holds AVAX tokens and related Avalanche ecosystem assets, registered roughly 74 million shares held by insiders.
What to know:
- Shares of AVAX One, a digital asset treasury firm advised by Anthony Scaramucci, fell more than 30% after the company filed to register up to nearly 74 million shares held by insiders as available for sale.
- The registration, which enables early investors to resell previously restricted stock, stoked fears of dilution.
- AVAX One's move reflects broader pressures on crypto-native public firms whose stocks trade at steep discounts to the value of their token holdings, though it remains unclear if or when the registered shares will be sold.
Top Stories
