The global tech giant, Google now allows users to search wallet balances on Bitcoin, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Polygon, and Fantom blockchains. When typing in wallet addresses, search results show the remaining token balance per network and the last updated time.
This follows Google’s recent inclusion of Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domain search results for wallet balances. ENS provides readable domain names for Ethereum wallet addresses, like Vitalik Buterin’s vitalik.eth.
These additions expand on Google’s initial support for Ethereum wallet balance searches since May last year. Previously, Google banned Bitcoin-related ads in 2018 but recently allowed Bitcoin ETF ads after approval in January 2024, signaling a more favorable stance.
Google’s integration of Bitcoin data in search results enhances public access to on-chain activity, benefiting from its massive daily search volume. Users can search three Bitcoin address formats – P2PKH, P2SH, and Bech32 – to see current balances and last transaction updates.
While some welcome this step toward mainstream adoption, privacy-focused Bitcoin advocates express concerns about centralized data aggregation. Google’s indexing of Bitcoin transactions raises privacy questions despite the public nature of blockchain data.
Despite the privacy debate, many commend Google’s move to improve on-chain literacy. As adoption grows, more comprehensive data indexing may follow, further bridging the gap for users exploring blockchain information.
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