Google Cloud joins EigenLayer mainnet as node operator

Google Cloud has launched the EigenLayer mainnet node operator, marking a milestone for the re-staking protocol and ecosystem.

Sam Padilla, Web3 product manager and node operator at Google Cloud, announced the successful launch of the company’s EigenLayer mainnet operator at X (formerly Twitter).

I’m happy to share that with you. @googlecloud The Eigen Layer mainnet operator is live!

congratulations @eigenlayer Team for successful mainnet launch.

Excited for what’s to come! https://t.co/4wcotltiBu

— Sam Padilla (@theSamPadilla) April 9, 2024

The move follows Google Cloud’s previous participation in EigenLayer’s ‘Operator Working Group’ alongside more than 65 other operators and sole stakers.

EigenLayer, a re-staking protocol that allows staking Ethereum (ETH) on multiple platforms simultaneously, was launched for stakers in June. However, operators that enhance security and allow stakers to delegate assets have been participating in the testnet so far. The launch of Google Cloud’s mainnet operator marks an important step toward fully realizing EigenLayer’s vision.

Google Cloud’s participation in the Web3 space has been growing steadily since the creation of its blockchain division led by Shivakumar Venkataraman, vice president of engineering at Google under Alphabet Inc, in January 2022. The company has launched a number of initiatives, including its blockchain node engine. , web3 startups, and partnerships with protocols such as Polygon and LayerZero.

The tech giant’s involvement in EigenLayer has not been without controversy, with some seeing the presence of large-scale cloud computing services as a potential threat to decentralization. However, EigenLayer’s license-free operator registration allows for a wide range of participants, from individual stakers to large institutions.

As EigenLayer continues to develop and attract more operators and stakers, the protocol aims to foster open innovation based on Ethereum’s programmable trust. The successful launch of the Google Cloud mainnet operator marks an important milestone in this journey and lays the foundation for further adoption and growth of the EigenLayer ecosystem.