Microsoft Azure node deployment opens door for easier Web3 app development

Ankr and Matter Labs hope the partnership will “lower the barrier of entry” for enterprise blockchain technology

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Ankr teamed up with Matter Labs to bring zkSync Era Nodes and Hyperchain blockchain solutions to Ankr’s Azure Marketplace. 

Ankr and Microsoft teamed up earlier this year, with Ankr’s Azure listings launched in June. 

Ankr is a Web3 infrastructure provider, while Matter Labs is the developer behind the Ethereum layer-2 rollup zkSync.

According to a press release, the aim is to integrate technology from all three — Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, zkSync Era’s blockchain network and Ankr’s solutions.

“The zkSync Era node deployment service will offer global blockchain connections enabling any enterprise or web3 project to connect to or build web3 apps on top of zkSync Era, a zkEVM Ethereum Layer-2 scaling protocol,” the release said.

In a June document focused on zero-knowledge tech, the team at Matter Labs said they want zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technology to embody “integrity, privacy and magic.”

“If we want to scale blockchain technology like the internet, we need to be able to accommodate the most complex Web2 use cases with the most stringent requirements in terms of security, performance and privacy, among other factors,” said Marco Cora, senior vice president of business and operations at Matter Labs.

Cora also hopes the partnership will “lower the barrier to entry and ignite enterprise adoption of blockchains. With the addition of our recently announced ZK Stack, we expect more and more enterprise use cases to take off on zkSync Era.”

Enterprises will be able to both build and launch a customizable hyperchain blockchain to further push their Web3 aspirations. Additionally, Ankr’s team will offer support and engineering.  

Read more: Ankr Doubles Down on Decentralization of Web3 Infrastructure

“By offering the ability to build on zkSync Era via Ankr’s Microsoft Azure Marketplace solutions, we are breaking barriers to entry for an array of businesses that need their unique scalability and performance requirements met before they begin building out their Web3 initiatives,” Ankr CEO Chandler Song said.

Microsoft also announced a partnership with Axelar earlier this month. The team-up between the technology company and the interoperability network would also help companies on the Azure Marketplace access services and developer tools for their pushes into blockchain technology.


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