Internet giant, Microsoft, is now providing blockchain node services to enterprises that require access to blockchain data thanks to a collaboration with Ankr, a Web3 infrastructure service.
Together, the two companies will create a new node hosting service in Microsoft’s Azure cloud marketplace which will feature customized memory and bandwidth specifications designed specifically for blockchain nodes.
As per statements from both companies, the enterprise node deployment service will allow Web3 projects or developers to deploy smart contracts, transmit transactions, and read or write blockchain data.
“Our partnership with Ankr will enable developers and organizations to access blockchain data in a reliable and secure way as they explore how Web3 can address real-world business challenges,” said Rashmi Misra, Microsoft’s General Manager for AI and emerging technologies, in the press release.
“Together, we are building a robust Web3 infrastructure layer.”
The partnership mimics another announcement made less than 6 months ago between Google and Coinbase whereby Google said that the crypto company would be tapping Google Cloud’s compute platform to process blockchain data at scale and enhance the global reach of its crypto services by leveraging Google’s premium fiber-optic network.
In addition, Coinbase would build its global data platform on Google Cloud’s infrastructure, as well as rely on the provider for data and analytics tools to power machine learning-driven crypto insights.
Ankr, among other enterprise solutions, offers a remote procedure call service (RPC) that facilitates the connection of cloud nodes to 19 blockchains, such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Solana, and Avalanche, enabling application developers and users to access them.
Following this collaboration, developers will have the ability to use Ankr’s RPCs and middleware platform for decentralized apps while also meeting their scaling requirements through Microsoft’s cloud platform. For instance, Azure can streamline transaction processes across multiple proof-of-stake chains and promptly direct RPC requests to the most suitable nodes.
RPC nodes, such as those provided by Ankr, allow decentralized applications to connect to blockchains and access user data making them a crucial component of the blockchain sector’s infrastructure. The RPC vertical remains an important niche within the infrastructure space and is predominantly occupied by both centralized and decentralized players, including Ankr, Infura, QuickNode, Alchemy, and other competitors.
“The partnership, while an incredible milestone for Ankr, is also a key indicator of how far the decentralized web has come in integrating with the crucial players in every layer of web systems. The end result will be an era of extremely prolific building for blockchain-based applications from new Web3 projects as well as large enterprises entering the space,” said Chandler Song, Co-Founder & CEO, Ankr.
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