Google Cloud Expands BigQuery with 11 New Blockchains

Google Cloud has unveiled an expansion of its 'BigQuery' program for datasets, introducing 11 new blockchains to facilitate convenient access to blockchain data.

In an official statement dated September 21, the company disclosed the incorporation of 11 additional networks, including Avalanche, Near, Fantom, Optimism, Polygon, Polygon Mumbai Testnet, Tron, Cronos, Arbitrum, and Ethereum Görli testnet. Google Cloud cited the necessity for developers to have access to a diverse array of public datasets as they explore more blockchain networks.

The cloud service provider stated,

“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…”

James Tromas, the head of web3, and Alberto Martin, the director of web3 Product Management Head, elaborated that both developers and users are seeking precise responses to critical questions such as "How many NFTs were generated today across three specific blockchains?" "What is the comparative analysis of transaction fees across various blockchains?" and "How many active wallets are there on the top EVM chains?"

The objective is to broaden the spectrum of blockchain data available on BigQuery, enabling users to investigate on-chain transaction history, comprehend asset movements between wallets, and assess user interactions with smart contracts. Additionally, the company noted that it has enhanced its existing blockchain dataset by incorporating Satoshis (sats) and Ordinals to cater to developers.

Expanding the horizons for developers, Google Cloud initiated the provision of blockchain datasets in 2018 with the introduction of data from the Bitcoin (BTC) Network, followed by the inclusion of Ethereum's data approximately a year later.

Presently, the company boasts a portfolio of 21 blockchains, including Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, among others, accessible through its BigQuery program.

BigQuery, an online data warehouse, empowers users to query data that is specifically stored for various informational needs. Recently, Google Cloud reaffirmed its commitment to the blockchain space after partnering with lighting infrastructure firm Voltage and Orderly Network, aimed at equipping decentralized applications with off-chain tools.

In light of the ongoing challenging conditions in the crypto market, the company has fulfilled its pledge to deliver more accurate data by introducing UDF for enhanced UNIT256 integration and BIGNUMERIC support. This development increases the precision of decimal points when accessing blockchain data, mitigating the risk of computational errors.

Lastly, Google Cloud emphasized that it has streamlined the process for users to access data, shifting from the conventional approach of acquiring nodes and developing an indexer before querying data, to an off-chain method for effortless computation.

The company stated,

“This means that customers can access blockchain data as easily as they would their data. By joining chain data with application data, customers can get a complete picture of their users and their business.”