​Google wants to become the 'Uber' of the Ethereum network (we'll explain).

Imagine a world where, if you wanted a car, you had to build and maintain it yourself with off the shelf parts.

Great if you're a car person - terrible for just about everyone else.

Transactions on a blockchain network are processed by 'nodes' (which is a fancy kind of computer).

Right now, if you want to add one of these computers to a blockchain network (to support a product you're building), you have to build it yourself - and most likely hire a small team to maintain it.

Which is much like building/maintaining a car, from scratch, all by yourself.

Google have just announced its 'Cloud Blockchain Node Engine,' which will essentially act like a car rental service - but for Ethereum node computers.

Customers can rent/use them, while Google covers the rest (maintenance, security etc.).

Here's what's great about this:

The easier any infrastructure is to access, the faster the product/service that it supports will grow. We saw it with:

• Uber vs. Taxi's (click a button on an app vs. call/hail a cab)

• Amazon vs. Brick-and-Mortar (shop from home vs. drive to the store)

• Netflix vs. Blockbuster (watch instantly online vs. drive to a strip mall)
  ​
  (...then make up an excuse as to why you're renting Season 2 of One Tree Hill for a fifth time, so the clerk doesn't judge you).
  ​
  (Even though you really shouldn't have to - it's Chad Michael Murray's best work, and totally underrated as far as mid-noughties dramas go).

But we digress...

The Google Cloud Blockchain Node Engine will help to bring more developers to Web3, the same way these examples brought new users to their respective products/services.

Here's what's not so great about this:

If everyone starts using Google to run their nodes, the Ethereum network could end up living on Google....which is the definition of centralization.

Meaning if they wanted to (or were mandated to), they could set/enforce their own rules of operation on the network. If you don't abide, you get booted off.

(Boooooo!)

What's the solution?

The creation of thousands of Google Cloud Blockchain Node Engine competitors.

(MUCH easier said than done).