Google Cloud Launches Blockchain RPC Service for Web3 Developers

Google Cloud launched a new Blockchain Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service that enables Web3 developers to build decentralized applications (DApps) faster and more efficiently.

With the new service, developers can use API calls to interact with blockchain data and integrate it into Ethereum-based DApps with a single line of code.

A Versatile Service for All Developers

Initially supporting the Ethereum mainnet and its test networks, Google Cloud’s Blockchain RPC service is compatible with the Ethereum JSON-RPC standard. This means, as per Google Cloud’s announcement from Sept. 18, that developers can easily integrate the service into their existing applications with minimal changes.

Google Cloud also plans to expand support for additional blockchains in the coming year.

🎉 Building on our commitment to support Web3 developers, we're announcing the preview launch of our new Blockchain RPC (Remote Procedure Call) service!

Read more → https://t.co/QIFllwMJhJ pic.twitter.com/k2S6IRtObi

— Google Cloud (@googlecloud) September 18, 2024

Additionally, Blockchain RPC can scale to handle growing request volumes, eliminating the need for manual scaling and ensuring a seamless experience for developers.

Google Cloud highlighted that its Blockchain RPC service is designed for many developers, from startups seeking a simple entry point into Web3 to large enterprises requiring a reliable, high-performance infrastructure solution.

The free version of Blockchain RPC supports up to 100 requests per second and 1 million requests daily, making it suitable for many developers.

For enterprise developers requiring wholesale computation, Google Cloud plans to introduce a premium version in the coming months.

The details:
➖ Provides developers with a streamlined way to interact with blockchain data
➖ Offers a scalable and reliable solution that eliminates the complexities of managing node infrastructure
➖ Free tier with 100 requests/second + 1 million requests per day

— Google Cloud (@googlecloud) September 18, 2024

RPC Issues Amidst Growing Web3 Activity

The launch of Blockchain RPC comes at a time when the Web3 ecosystem is grappling with RPC-related issues.

On June 17, ZkSync Era, an Ethereum-based Layer-2 network, experienced performance issues due to the influx of users claiming their long-awaited ZK tokens. ZkSync attributed the network congestion to the overwhelming number of users trying to claim their tokens, resulting in degraded performance for some RPC services.

(1/2) The network is currently under high load. Some RPC services may experience degraded performance.

Teams are working to increase RPC capacities.

Stay tuned for updates.

— ZKsync (∎, ∆) (@zksync) June 17, 2024

Google Cloud’s Web3 Expansion

Google Cloud’s new service joins a competitive landscape of existing RPC providers such as Infura, Alchemy, QuickNode, Ankr, and others. These providers offer similar services, allowing developers to interact with blockchains without running a full node.

Beyond Blockchain RPC, Google Cloud offers a comprehensive range of Web3 infrastructure services. These include node hosting and BigQuery data analytics for 19 different blockchains, allowing developers to gain valuable insights into blockchain activity.

Additionally, Google Cloud validates multiple networks, including Aptos, Arbitrum, Solana, Hedera, and Fantom.