Google Cloud Rolls Out Ethereum-Compatible Blockchain RPC Service

The tech giant has launched this Blockchain RPC service to simplify how crypto developers access blockchain data and improve the reliability of decentralized applications (DApps). Initially, the service will support the Ethereum mainnet and testnet, with plans to extend compatibility to other blockchains over the next year, per a Sept. 17 blog post from Google Cloud.

The service is launching with a free tier, offering up to 100 call requests per second and a maximum of one million requests per day, along with support for EIP-1474 — a standard set of RPC methods for Ethereum nodes.

According to Google Cloud, the Blockchain RPC service fully complies with Ethereum's JSON-RPC standard, allowing developers to integrate it into Ethereum-based DApps with just a single line of code.

An RPC is a software communication protocol that enables one program to request services from another program running on a different machine or network.

Google Cloud pointed out that RPC reliability has been an ongoing challenge for many crypto developers, as even minor delays or errors can affect the performance of decentralized applications, many of which rely on near-instant transaction clearance and settlement.

Blockchain networks frequently face RPC issues during periods of high network traffic or transaction volume. 

For instance, in June, Ethereum's layer-2 scaling network ZKsync experienced significant delays and network issues due to high activity and RPC provider challenges.

On April 25, Google Cloud launched a suite of tools called the Web3 Portal, aimed at blockchain developers, providing resources like data sets and tutorials. However, it received mixed reviews from the crypto community, with some criticizing its "terrible" user interface and others raising concerns about the lack of support for major blockchain networks like Bitcoin.