Google Cloud’s new Web3 portal has been met with mixed reactions from the crypto community. The portal offers resources for blockchain developers, including datasets and tutorials on creating non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, some members of the community expressed disappointment in the lack of native support for Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Phil Geiger, the vice president of product marketing at Unchained, called it an oversight to ignore the most important cryptocurrency. Similarly, a pseudonymous crypto trader named MartyParty claimed that Google is lagging behind in the industry.
On the other hand, there were those who welcomed the launch of the Web3 portal. Ivaibi Festo, the founder of Mitroplus labs, referred to it as a comprehensive resource, indicating a positive perception of the platform.
The Web3 portal offers developers access to various products and provides testnet tokens for deploying and testing decentralized applications (DApps) on Ethereum testnets. It also offers a learning program with tutorials on developing NFTs, implementing Web3 loyalty programs, and securing digital assets with multi-party computation (MPC).
Google has been making strides in the Web3 industry with recent developments. Users can now search wallet balances across multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin and various others. Additionally, Google updated its advertising policies to allow certain crypto products, including Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to be advertised on major search engines.
Preparations for the Web3 portal launch began last year when Google Cloud integrated its BigQuery data warehouse with MultiversX. This integration enabled Web3 projects and users to leverage powerful data analytics and artificial intelligence tools within the Google Cloud ecosystem. In September 2023, Google’s BigQuery expanded its data warehouse to include 11 blockchain networks.
Earlier this month, Google filed a lawsuit against two individuals from China for utilizing the Google Play store to deceive people into fake crypto investments. The lawsuit aims to obtain a permanent injunction against the defendants and claims damages exceeding $75,000.
Overall, the launch of Google Cloud’s Web3 portal has sparked both positive and negative reactions within the crypto community. While some see it as a valuable resource, others criticize it for its lack of support for certain cryptocurrencies.