New Amazon Blockchain Services Unveiled This Week
December 1, 2018 by Akshay Makadiya
Amazon’s computing arm Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched two new blockchain services: the Amazon Quantum Ledger Database (QLDB) and the AWS Managed Blockchain. The moves indicate the powerhouse company’s keen interest in the fledgling tech.
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Come Get Your Database, Amazon Blockchain Style
At the AWS re:Invent 2018 conference in Las Vegas, AWS introduced Quantum Ledger Database, a centrally managed ledger geared towards immutability without the need for decentralized infrastructure.
AWS’s QLDB service will reportedly establish such immutability by cryptographically verifying all entries in its ledger. AWS said its QLDB could carry out considerably more transactions than other existing services.
“It will be really scalable,” said AWS chief operating officer Andy Jassy.
“You’ll have a much more flexible and robust set of APIs for your to make any kind of changes or adjustments to the ledger database.”
At re:Invent 2018, Jassy’s team also unveiled the new Amazon Managed Blockchain Service, which will allow companies to launch their own customizable blockchains via AWS infrastructure.
The new service will support open-source frameworks like Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric and is touted as compatible with QLDB.
Marketplace for Containers Launches, Too
At the same conference, Amazon’s cloud arm also launched the AWS Marketplace for Containers, offering its customers the opportunity to purchase trusted container solutions from a large catalog.
It’s a move that already has blockchain implications.
As a launch partner, the Edinburgh-based Blockchain Technology Partners (BPT) rolled out Sextant, a distributed ledger tech (DLT) management platform, via the AWS Marketplace for Containers.
BPT’s Sextant aims to provide businesses and developers a fertile environment to test decentralized applications or smart contracts.
“With the help of Sextant, enterprises can navigate blockchain management with ease and, with the launch of AWS Marketplace for Containers, they can be up and running and exploring the brave new world of blockchain in no time at all,” BPT chief operating officer Duncan Johnson-Watt said.
Sextant leverages Hyperledger Sawtooth, an open-source enterprise solution for building and deploying distributed ledgers.
AWS Promoting DLT
At present, there are 28 blockchain platforms available on the wider AWS Marketplace.
Recently, ConsenSys-backed blockchain solutions provider Kaleido partnered with AWS to launch a full-stack platform, Kaleido Marketplace, aimed at helping AWS clients embrace distributed ledger tech more easily.
In April 2018, AWS also launched “Blockchain Templates” to help developers create DLT-powered applications. The templates offered pre-set blockchain frameworks reliant on Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric.
Last year, consortium startup R3 unveiled its enterprise-grade blockchain platform Corda on AWS Marketplace. The development allowed AWS users to create and deploy decentralized applications via Corda’s network.
With all that said, AWS’s blockchain journey looks like it’s only just getting started.
Will Amazon blockchain services become popular? Share your views in the comments section below.
Images via AWS, Pixabay
