The BigQuery Blockchain Bonanza
In a thrilling update that’s sure to raise eyebrows (and probably some digital currencies), Google Cloud has announced the addition of 11 new blockchain networks to its BigQuery data warehouse. As of September 21, users can now access data from Avalanche, Arbitrum, Cronos, Ethereum’s Görli testnet, Fantom, Near, Optimism, Polkadot, Polygon’s mainnet, Polygon’s Mumbai testnet, and Tron. That’s 19 networks total – a real blockchain buffet!
What’s BigQuery and Why Should You Care?
For those who might not be in the know, BigQuery is Google’s go-to data warehouse that allows enterprise firms to store and analyze massive datasets. Think of it as a giant filing cabinet in the cloud, but instead of random papers, you’ve got juicy data waiting to be unearthed. It houses some public datasets like Google Trends and American Community Service demographic information, which are as diverse as your local coffee shop’s menu.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Google’s blockchain journey began in 2018 with the launch of a Bitcoin dataset, followed closely by Ethereum. Fast forward to today, and they’ve got a whopping variety of blockchain offerings, including notable players like Bitcoin Cash and Dogecoin. It’s like attending a family reunion but with more ledgers and fewer awkward small talk moments.
New Features for the Data-Driven
In addition to the new networks, Google is rolling out enhancements to improve the overall data quality. Say goodbye to the days of squinting at decimal results! Thanks to user-defined functions, executing blockchain queries will now be smoother than your neighbor’s new electric car. These functions help manage long-form decimal results and cut down on those pesky rounding errors that can make analytics feel like a game of telephone.
The Future Looks Bright (and Blockchain-y)
Google Cloud is clearly betting on blockchain technology. In just this year alone, they’ve made waves by partnering with Voltage, a Lightning Network infrastructure provider, and the Web3 startup Orderly Network. With such ambitious plans, it looks like Google isn’t just tossing crypto into the air — they’re building a solid framework for the future of data management in the blockchain space.
