The real-time AI company DataStax has announced the release of Astra Block, a new service made available within the Astra DB cloud database that enables developers to easily build and deploy Web3 applications using all of the real-time information from the Ethereum blockchain.
Developers can rapidly stream enriched data from the industry’s leading blockchain using Astra Block, and then virtually extend Web3 experiences using serverless cloud database Astra DB limitlessly.
By leveraging Cassandra’s real-time speed, vast scalability, and zero downtime, Astra Block is making the once-impossible task of cloning the whole blockchain dataset possible with the push of a button.
The new service enables developers to incorporate additional blockchain-based functionality into their applications by enabling powerful querying and real-time analytics to run at rates of under a second. For instance, developers can create software that can instantly and accurately provide insights on any transaction from the history of the blockchain, including those involving crypto or NFTs.
“Blockchains are changing the way information is stored and used, but their potential is largely unrealized,” remarked DataStax’s Chief Product Officer Ed Anuff. “These distributed ledgers open up a whole new world of innovation similar to what we saw with digital content 20 years ago or social media 15 years ago – that is, the possibilities are only limited by our imaginations.”
“Healthcare, real estate, IoT, cybersecurity, music, identity management, and logistics” are among the industries listed by Anuff that would benefit greatly from blockchain technology.
To ensure that the chain clone is updated in real time when new blocks are mined, Astra Block employs CDC for its Astra DB and Astra Streaming functionalities.
There has been an increase in enterprise adoption of blockchain technology as of late. Gartner predicted that 25% of organisations will communicate with clients or partners through decentralised Web3 applications by 2024.
However, developers have found difficulty in accessing this data with ease, resorting to creating their own indexer, managing the data architecture manually, and using numerous API connections.
In addition, it is challenging to manage and effectively evaluate blockchain transactions, which renders many use cases untenable. With the use of enormous blockchain databases, Astra Block is intended to transform and streamline the process of creating and scaling Web3 apps.
