Google Cloud has announced a new partnership with Voltage, an infrastructure provider specializing in the Bitcoin Lightning Network. This partnership will allow Google Cloud, a $225-billion cloud and data service, to offer Bitcoin-based services globally while also supporting the expansion of Voltage’s operations.
Graham Krizek, CEO of Voltage, explained that the partnership will enable Voltage to leverage Google Cloud’s capabilities to better serve its customers worldwide. He stated, “We have larger customers that need nodes deployed in specific geographic regions like the U.K. or Asia.” Additionally, Google can utilize Voltage as its outsourced Bitcoin and Lightning team, helping companies interested in integrating Bitcoin and Lightning into their services.
The announcement of this partnership has generated significant interest on social media, indicating Google’s growing acceptance and understanding of Bitcoin and Lightning. Christopher Calicott, managing director of venture capital firm Tramell Venture Partners, stated, “This unexpected engagement definitely gets people’s attention at Google.”
More importantly, this partnership showcases Google’s open-minded approach to Lightning, which stands in contrast to its competitor, Apple. Recently, Apple removed Damus, a Lightning-friendly decentralized social media protocol, from its App Store, demonstrating its aversion to Lightning. Calicott suggested that the tech industry is starting to warm up to Lightning, stating, “If they’re adjacent to payments, they would ignore Lightning at their peril.”
Google Cloud operates under Alphabet, its parent company. The widely used payment platform, Google Pay, has hundreds of millions of users in over 15 countries. In recent years, Google Ventures (GV), the investment arm of Google, has shown a strong interest in blockchain, Web3 companies, and Bitcoin. GV participated in a $6-million seed round for Voltage in 2021. Calicott believes that the involvement of a major player like Google in the crypto space signifies growing momentum.
Despite Apple’s negative stance on Lightning, the Lightning Network continues to gain traction among billion-dollar businesses worldwide. One of Mexico’s largest companies has started experimenting with Lightning, and major crypto exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase have also promised Lightning integration.
However, it is still early in the adoption of Lightning, and Calicott emphasizes the need to observe its growth closely. Krizek, with his extensive experience in the Bitcoin space since 2012, highlighted the significance of this partnership. He stated, “As we start to expose these organizations more to Bitcoin and what is possible with it via Lightning, we’ve caught their attention already with the amount of interest and demand that we’ve had.”
Going forward, more Bitcoin-based services will be rolled out as a result of this partnership, accompanied by efforts to educate organizations about Bitcoin. With Google Cloud’s support, Voltage aims to expand its global reach and provide valuable services to customers interested in integrating Bitcoin and Lightning into their operations.
In conclusion, Google Cloud’s partnership with Voltage demonstrates the company’s growing interest in Bitcoin and Lightning. This collaboration not only enables Google Cloud to offer Bitcoin-based services worldwide but also supports Voltage’s expansion. The involvement of a major player like Google indicates a larger trend of increasing acceptance and understanding of Lightning within the tech industry. As the adoption of Lightning continues to grow, it will be important to monitor its development and the opportunities it presents for businesses.
Source link
