Renowned for its robust DDoS prevention, Cloudflare introduces its Ethereum access point, expanding their service suite. Ethereum blockchain .
This launch was part of Cloudflare's Crypto Week 2019, a celebration where the firm unveiled several new services aimed at enhancing internet security using cutting-edge cryptography. Ethereum Gateway On their blog, Cloudflare's cryptographer Jonathan Hoyland discussed the debut of the free Ethereum Gateway, integrating it into their Distributed Web Gateway offerings. This means users can interact with Ethereum network directly, without additional software.
Cloudflare, one of the largest global networks, is now offering swift access to Ethereum's blockchain.
. @Cloudflare Cloudflare's services facilitate the operation of decentralized websites on the Ethereum network, Hoyland stated. https://t.co/ccnixaY7pp
— DCinvestor (@iamDCinvestor) June 19, 2019
According to Hoyland, this system enables websites to include interactive features, powered by Ethereum smart contracts. When combined with the IPFS gateway, this allows for decentralized hosting of sites and resources, boasting enhanced speed, security, and reliability through Cloudflare's extensive network.
At the post's conclusion, the cryptographer offered a comprehensive primer on Ethereum technology and Cloudflare's gateway, earning applause from the Ethereum community for effectively making blockchain accessible to tech enthusiasts.
However, some critics argue that employing Cloudflare to access blockchain could undermine decentralization goals.
In defense, Eric Conner from Gnosis and co-creator of EthHub explained that Cloudflare's Ethereum Gateway offers a much-needed alternative to existing solutions.
Infura, currently supporting many top Ethereum dapps like CryptoKitties and MetaMask, is often seen as a bottleneck, which Cloudflare's solution seeks to alleviate. Infura Conner appreciated that Cloudflare's outlined hosting process appeared genuinely decentralized.
There are two primary points to consider. While the node operation isn't completely decentralized, it's a welcome alternative to Infura. That's beneficial!
From my perspective, the hosting seems entirely decentralized, which is fantastic. The content is on IPFS with the backend managed by a smart contract.
Ethereum developer Péter Szilágyi feels cautiously optimistic, noting that while the Ethereum Gateway news isn't inherently negative, it positions Cloudflare as a global intermediary, akin to a 'global adversary' in cryptographic terms.
— eric.eth (@econoar) June 19, 2019
The term 'global adversary' refers to an entity with access to the entire flow of encrypted information, a scenario many protocols are designed to avoid.
Péter Szilágyi (karalabe.eth) (@peter_szilagyi) @Cloudflare 's goal is "to be in the middle of everything" @grittygrease , so go figure.
It's not about ill intentions; it's that Cloudflare is strategically positioned to expand its influence in the decentralized web world. June 19, 2019
Regardless of perspective, the Ethereum Gateway marks another mainstream tech giant's foray into smart contract platforms. Recently, Google Cloud demonstrated similar interest.
Google illustrated how their BigQuery service could interact with Ethereum and Chainlink's decentralized oracles. “hybrid” cloud-blockchain apps Ethereum's first phase of 'ETH 2.0' is expected to launch in January 2020.
With big players eyeing Ethereum, its developers focus on its critical transitional period.
Last week, during the 19th ETH 2.0 Implementers Call, Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake suggested
January 3rd, 2020, as the ideal date for launching 'Phase Zero' of the Serenity upgrade—transitioning Ethereum to proof-of-stake and starting the ETH 2.0 Beacon Chain. January 3rd, 2020 Why January 3rd, 2020? Drake cites two reasons: stakeholders will be ready post-holidays, and it's a tribute to Bitcoin's genesis block date from 2009.
Ethereum's proof-of-stake code is set to conclude this month.
The comments come ahead of the planned specification freeze William M. Peaster, a seasoned writer and editor, expertly covers Ethereum, Dai, and Bitcoin topics in the cryptoeconomy. His work appears in Blockonomi, Binance Academy, and others. He's passionate about following smart contracts, DAOs, dApps, and the Lightning Network. Plus, he's learning Solidity! Reach him on Telegram at @wmpeaster.
