RootstockLabs has announced that developers can now launch a Rootstock Smart Mainnet node on Microsoft’s Azure BaaS offering, becoming one of the few public blockchains supported by Microsoft’s Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) marketplace.
The integration provides a simplified process for setting up an environment that facilitates the development of decentralized applications (dApps) and services supported by the Bitcoin blockchain. This enables users to deploy and configure a Rootstock blockchain network in minutes, instead of setting up local servers and manually installing and maintaining the nodes. Now both non-blockchain and blockchain developers can learn and experiment at a low cost and easily on the Rootstock network.
Diego Gutierrez Zaldivar, cofounder of Rootstock blockchain commented: “Making development as easy and seamless as possible is vital to realizing blockchain technology’s full potential. Microsoft’s endorsement of Rootstock sidechain is critical in bridging the gap to mass adoption, which, in turn, will help unleash the power of the Internet of Value.”
“dApp developers can now focus on building their product since they don’t have to worry anymore about spending hours in setting up and maintaining the node. Microsoft’s support will be key to accelerate adoption of Rootstock technologies and the Bitcoin Ecosystem” said Adrian Eidelman, Rootstock Strategist and RootstockLabs CTO.
Microsoft has for several years provided BaaS support for enterprise blockchains, such as R3 and Hyperledger Fabric. However, it’s one of the few cloud providers to support public blockchain development, making it a natural partner for RootstockLabs’ continued work in bringing smart contract capabilities to the Bitcoin blockchain. The developer environment provided by Azure’s BaaS allows blockchain developers to learn and fail fast at a low cost, making continued dApp experimentation on the Rootstock network significantly easier for blockchain and traditional developers alike.
This will be especially important in the months ahead, as RootstockLabs launches new protocol implementations for RIF including off-chain payments, data storage, data feeds, and secure communications. Additionally, the ability to set up multiple nodes with a one-click process allows developers to expand the Rootstock blockchain at minimal upfront cost, while also providing new opportunities to obtain mining rewards via storage rental on the nodes themselves. This will be key to maintaining the decentralized structure of the network as developers increasingly look to take advantage of EVM-compatibility secured by the hashing power of the Bitcoin Network.
“Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified and optimized to run on Azure,” said Sajan Parihar, Director, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. “We’re happy to welcome Rootstock blockchain to the growing Azure Marketplace ecosystem.”
For more information on setting up a new node on Rootstock Orchid Mainnet via Azure, please visit the Rootstock Developer Portal.
About RootstockLabs
RootstockLabs is a key contributor to Rootstock, the first, biggest, and longest-lasting Bitcoin layer 2.
RootstockLabs specializes in pioneering innovative solutions within the blockchain space, empowering developers with funding, technology, and marketing support to expand the frontiers of decentralized technology and make Bitcoin work for everyone.
Rootstock is the first, biggest, and longest-lasting Bitcoin sidechain. It is the only Bitcoin layer 2 that combines the security of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work, with Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities.
Rootstock is open-source, EVM-compatible, and secured by over 60% of Bitcoin’s hashing power, which makes it a gateway to a vibrant ecosystem of dApps that continues to evolve to become fully trustless.