Amazon Onboarding with Learning Manager Chanci Turner

Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner

We are excited to announce the launch of the new Amazon Managed Blockchain (AMB) Access and Query features. These enhancements broaden the scope of AMB, enabling developers to engage effortlessly with public blockchains, facilitating the rapid and secure development of scalable applications. AMB Access introduces a serverless solution for non-mining, full blockchain nodes. This means developers can now easily execute standard remote procedure calls (RPCs) to interact with digital assets and distributed applications across various blockchains, beginning with Bitcoin, all without the need for specialized blockchain infrastructure. Meanwhile, AMB Query provides formatted and standardized blockchain data from multiple networks, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum, allowing applications to retrieve information without the complexities of data transformation or high storage costs. In this post, we will explore the challenges that AMB Access and Query address, their new features, and potential use cases.

Background

Our development process has focused on the needs of blockchain developers, ranging from enterprises integrating Web3 innovations into traditional Web2 products to blockchain startups pushing the boundaries of decentralized technologies. Over the last three years, we have witnessed the maturation of use cases for public blockchains. Developers are now able to create mainstream applications that facilitate new forms of value exchange—from decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions to consumer engagement platforms utilizing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and efficient cryptocurrency payments. However, the evolving landscape of public blockchain tools still requires developers to invest significant time in managing node operations and data indexing, detracting from their ability to focus on enhancing user experiences.

Developers currently face three main challenges in the blockchain space:

1. They need to maintain specialized blockchain servers, known as nodes, to submit transactions or read the blockchain’s current state. Keeping up with a constant stream of node software updates is labor-intensive and crucial to ensure transactions are processed correctly. Scaling node infrastructure to match application usage introduces further operational risks.
2. Supporting multiple blockchains necessitates maintaining nodes across various platforms, adding complexity as each blockchain has its unique requirements for language, hardware, and software updates.
3. Developers must convert raw blockchain data into accessible formats for analytics, such as wallet balances and NFT descriptions. This process involves downloading vast amounts of data from archive nodes, standardizing it through complex transformations, and executing smart contracts to gather necessary information, all while managing real-time updates.

Capabilities of AMB Access and Query

To alleviate these burdens for blockchain developers, we focused on simplifying the foundational blockchain infrastructure and data access with these key capabilities:

• Serverless Access: AMB Access enhances the existing dedicated node offerings with serverless, scalable, and secure access to blockchain networks. This facilitates instant availability of standard RPCs, eliminating the hassle of configuring dedicated infrastructure for resilience and scalability or managing blockchain server maintenance. In response to client demand, AMB Access will initially support Bitcoin, providing non-mining, full Bitcoin Core nodes. Dedicated node options will still be available for customers requiring a hands-on approach to meet their resilience and compliance needs.
• Multiple Blockchains: Both AMB Access and Query offer access to popular blockchains from a single platform, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum. By adding Bitcoin, AMB simplifies serverless API access, complementing its managed public blockchain offering for Ethereum. We remain committed to expanding support for additional blockchains based on customer feedback.
• Straightforward Data Access: AMB Query delivers common application APIs that provide quick access to data from multiple blockchains, ensuring response times that cater to interactive consumer applications. Complex infrastructure setups and data transformation processes are abstracted behind simple API calls for common requests, such as retrieving wallet balances across supported blockchains.
• Predictable Pricing: AMB Access and Query utilize a transparent pay-as-you-go pricing model, charged on a per-RPC or API call basis. There are no utilization minimums or convoluted conversions to dollar costs.

General Availability Features

In our initial release, AMB Access and Query include the following features:

• AMB Access for Bitcoin: Developers can connect to both mainnet and testnet non-mining full Bitcoin Core nodes, accessing 28 commonly used JSON RPCs from the Bitcoin Core Client. AMB Access is available over public endpoints or privately via AWS Private Link. For more details, check our documentation.
• AMB Query for Bitcoin and Ethereum: Developers can retrieve commonly requested on-chain data, including current and historical address token balances and transaction histories. With six initial APIs, AMB Query provides standardized data from Bitcoin and Ethereum mainnets. Additional details can be found in our documentation.

Use Cases

AMB Access and Query serve as essential components for a variety of public blockchain applications. Here are two illustrative use cases:

• Custodians and Wallets: Similar to traditional banking applications, Web3 custodians and wallets allow users to manage their cryptocurrencies with ease. Users expect to see their current and historical balances, as well as transaction records, at their fingertips. Regardless of whether these applications are centralized or decentralized, they must facilitate quick interactions with blockchain RPCs through AMB Access while retrieving data efficiently using AMB Query.
• Consumer Engagement: The increasing utilization of NFTs by companies like Nike and Starbucks illustrates a growing trend in consumer engagement. NFTs act as gating tokens, unlocking exclusive benefits for holders and incentivizing actions such as purchasing goods. Developers can enhance engagement by integrating these functionalities through AMB Access and Query.

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