Google Cloud is now a Polygon validator

Polygon is transitioning to a validium-based system supported by zero-knowledge proofs

article-image

Sundry Photography/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Polygon announced Friday that Google Cloud is officially a validator for the proof-of-stake sidechain. 

This comes months after T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, also became a validator, showing that Polygon is consistently attracting the interest of large technology firms.

Polygon took to X to share the news, saying that the same infrastructure that powers YouTube and Gmail, both products boasting billions of users, will now be helping secure its own network. 

Loading Tweet..

Google Cloud has staked just over $5,300 worth of MATIC on Polygon so far, according to Polygon’s staking dashboard.  

Besides being another big tech name being attached to Polygon, Google’s involvement could have implications for Polygon’s anticipated switch from a PoS chain to a validium.

Read more: T-Mobile parent joins Polygon blockchain as validator

Validiums are similar to zero-knowledge proofs, but they diverge in how they store data. Instead of storing data on Ethereum, validiums rely on off-chain storage solutions, which makes the blockchain less clogged and more efficient. 

Polygon did acknowledge the need for off-chain storage as a decentralization tradeoff in a June blog. Plus, since only the proofs are stored on-chain, rather than the underlying data, validiums don’t benefit from the security of Ethereum.

Still, when the transition to a zkEVM validium goes through, perhaps by early 2024 according to Polygon Labs, Google Cloud will be among 100 other validators securing the chain and guaranteeing data availability.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates.png

Research

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) represent low-hanging fruit in a massive market ripe for Web3-driven disruption. The global CDN market was valued at ~$28B in 2024, and is projected to surpass $140B by 2034, (18.75% CAGR) underscoring the immense demand for efficient content delivery.

article-image

Robinhood announced that it’s building an L2 and also plans to launch staking for US users

article-image

“We’re not really doing anything controversial,” said co-founder Zak Folkman at Permissionless last week

article-image

Why equities are more stable than in past decades, plus advice from Peter Lynch

article-image

As Permissionless speakers talk on-chain RWA potential, tokenized stock platform Dinari secures FINRA broker-dealer approval

article-image

JavaScript fueled a toxic ad model for the internet, says Brendan Eich, but crypto and privacy tech could help us escape it

article-image

Stablecoin drivers, the SEC’s war on ETH, and how AI is driving crypto