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Tezos is leaning on Google to strengthen its fast-growing Etherlink ecosystem, offering builders access to a generous helping of Google Cloud credits, funding opportunities, technical assistance and more.
According to the Tezos Foundation, which runs the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain, Etherlink developers who have previously obtained funding are now eligible to access the “Scale Tier” of Google Cloud’s Web3 Startup Program.
Etherlink is like the Polygon of the Tezos ecosystem. It’s an EVM-compatible Layer-2 network that’s powered by Tezos Smart Rollups, and it has emerged as one of the key drivers of Tezos’ growth over the last year, enabling decentralized applications to scale with faster transaction speeds and low gas costs. It’s tightly integrated with the Tezos network, inheriting its security, governance and all major upgrades.
Unlike other L2s that only post transactions to the main chain at regular intervals, Etherlink’s data flows immediately onto Tezos, ensuring almost immediate finality. In addition, its EVM compatibility makes the Tezos ecosystem more accessible. Because it speaks the same language as Ethereum, developers can use the same familiar tools or even bring their existing Ethereum dApp codebase onto Etherlink and get started building.
What’s On Offer?
Etherlink developers who qualify for Google Cloud’s Web3 Startup Program will be getting a pretty sweet deal, with the Scale Tier providing access to up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over a two-year period. But it’s not just about the infrastructure. Developers will also be able to utilize some of Google Cloud’s advanced cloud tooling, including its AI offerings and data platform. And that’s not all, for they’ll also get 12 months of free access to Google Workspace Business Plus, as well as the possibility of an additional $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits for one year.
Other benefits of the program include technical support from Google’s engineers, solution architecture guidance and dedicated engineering resources for Web3 builders. There will also be go-to-market opportunities within Google’s broader ecosystem and its Web3 community. The program opens the door to Google’s gated Discord channel for Web3 builders, engineers partners, and various networking opportunities. For instance, builders will be given VIP invites to Google Cloud events at renowned Web3 conferences globally, including Consensus, TOKEN20249 Singapore and Paris Blockchain Week. Not least, Google is offering to introduce the most promising teams to its network of venture capitalists and angel investors, and provide invitations to other events, including online webinars.
If the offer seems generous, it’s because Google has big ambitions for Web3, seeing its cloud infrastructure as the ideal infrastructure platform for various kinds of dApps. The company has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Tezos over the years, serving as a validator and running a secure copy of its network on its cloud infrastructure, ensuring low-latency access across six continents.
Google Cloud’s head of Web3 strategy Rich Widmann indicated that the program is like an investment in its ambitions for blockchain. He explained that momentum always picks up when the company provides developers with the resources and tools they need to build. “Remove the friction, and innovation follows,” he said.
A Chance To Build Without Bother
Etherlink has seen plenty of momentum itself in recent months, with total value locked on its network soaring to more than $70 million in October, even with the recent dip in the fortunes of the broader crypto market. Notably, Curve recently launched on Etherlink, supercharging stablecoin liquidity in the Tezos ecosystem.
With Google Cloud’s generosity, we can expect even more progress for Etherlink, but builders should note the eligibility criteria. The most important one is that the Web3 Startup Program is only open to projects that have received some sort of funding, such as an equity investment, token sale, NFT sale or a grant from a blockchain foundation. Projects that have already secured Series A funding are eligible, so long as it occurred within the last 12 months. Other stipulations are that eligible projects must have been founded within the last 10 years, and they can’t have received more than $4,000 in Google Cloud Credits already.
Etherlink builders who are accepted into the program may also be eligible for other benefits, including grants of up to $1 million from Aptos, Flow, NEAR Protocol, Celo and the Solana Foundation, and as much as $3 million from the Polygon Ventures Ecosystem Fund.
However, the main advantage of the program is not so much the money, but the fact it allows builders to show what they can do, without financial constraints. “Having $200,000 in Google Cloud credits means builders can actually experiment and build, without worrying about infrastructure costs eating into their runway,” said Nomadic Labs Head of Engineering Yann Régis-Gianas.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.