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

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.

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Brooklyn, NY

SUN - MON, JUN. 22 - 23, 2025

Blockworks and Cracked Labs are teaming up for the third installment of the Permissionless Hackathon, happening June 22–23, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. This is a 36-hour IRL builder sprint where developers, designers, and creatives ship real projects solving real problems across […]

recent research

Research Report Templates.png

Research

The convergence of DePIN and energy generation aims to address modern grid challenges by incentivizing distributed generation.

article-image

Stripe announced Stablecoin Financial Accounts, which will allow businesses to have “stablecoin-powered accounts”

article-image

The deal is made up of $700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase’s Class A common stock

article-image

Blockworks Research uses numbers to help crypto advance to a higher stage of storytelling

article-image

While Arizona’s governor could veto another crypto reserve bill, similar North Carolina and Texas laws are approaching the finish line

article-image

However, they noted there’s now an increased risk that unemployment and inflation will rise in the coming months.