Google is integrating its BigQuery service with a blockchain oracle called Chainlink that runs smart contracts. “A business process implemented as a smart contract is performed on-chain, and that is of limited utility without having access to off-chain inputs,” Day wrote. Chainlink raised $32 million in an initial coin offering in September 2017, and its facilitation of smart contracts could help enable more creative payment plans for services like airline flights when they’re delayed. Day and lead developer Evgeny Medvedev began introducing blockchain technology to Google last year, when they added data from the bitcoin and ethereum blockchains into BigQuery. Forbes recognized those efforts by including Google in its Blockchain 50 in April, which list 50 companies using decentralized ledgers in innovating ways.

Source: Forbes June 13, 2019 21:21 UTC