While the usual narrative between big tech and crypto is usually one of competition, numerous examples show that the two industries can work together. On Tuesday, September 12, Tencent Cloud, the cloud arm of the Chinese tech giant Tencent, partnered with Ankr, a decentralized blockchain infrastructure provider, to launch the Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC.
This product targets organizations and enterprises seeking efficient access to blockchain infrastructure. The service will provide a direct gateway to the most popular blockchain networks. For instance, this includes Ethereum Mainnet, BNB Smart Chain, and Polygon PoS.
Breaking Down the Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC
At its core, the Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is a gateway for direct interaction with blockchain networks. It’s a service that allows developers to interact with the blockchain without worrying about its underlying structure.
For instance, without RPC infrastructure, developers must set up and maintain nodes for each blockchain they wish to interact with. This means downloading and synchronizing vast amounts of data while ensuring the node remains in sync with the network.
Moreover, running a node, especially for major blockchains, demands significant computational power, storage, and bandwidth. This translates to increased costs and resource allocation, making it a less feasible option for smaller developers or startups.
The Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC simplifies and streamlines these processes, making blockchain interactions more accessible and efficient. It lowers the barrier to entry, allowing more developers to harness the power of blockchain technology without getting entangled in its complexities.
Making Blockchain RPC Accessible to Startups
To further boost the accessibility of its cloud service, Tencent Cloud and Ankr have focused on making the product fast and low-cost. For one, they claim the service will likely support up to 1,800 requests per second per chain.
On the cost side, the Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC will have a free version, predefined features, and rate limits. This will enable all developers to interact with the blockchains directly.
In contrast, the premium version will offer Pay-as-you-Go blockchain interaction with enhanced request throughput and improved rate limits. This ensures that developers only pay for the bandwidth they use. Moreover, an exclusive enterprise version of Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC is in the works, designed to cater to a broader range of global use cases.
While making cloud solutions more accessible, Tencent Cloud and Ankr also have plans to expand their scope to other blockchains. There are also plans to integrate an advanced API service into public and premium service versions to streamline the process further.
On the Flipside
The partnership between Ankr and Tencent Cloud isn’t new. In February, both entities signed an agreement to develop a comprehensive suite of blockchain API services.
Ankr had previously partnered with tech behemoth Microsoft to offer enterprise node hosting services.
Why This Matters
For crypto traders and enthusiasts, this partnership signifies the growing acceptance and integration of decentralized platforms with established tech giants. As traditional companies like Tencent recognize the potential of blockchain and its applications, it paves the way for increased investment, innovation, and adoption in the crypto space.
Source : DailyCoin by David Marsanic / September 12, 2023
