- Search results display Bitcoin wallet balances with the last transaction update, supporting P2PKH, P2SH, and Bech32 address formats.
- Google’s search capabilities now extend to Ethereum and other EVM networks, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, Fantom, Optimism, and Polygon.
Google has introduced a groundbreaking feature to its search engine, simplifying the way users can check the balance of Bitcoin wallets. Announced on Tuesday, this enhancement allows for the input of Bitcoin addresses directly into Google’s search bar, presenting the associated wallet’s balance immediately.
This is not just limited to Bitcoin
Recognizing the broadening interest in cryptocurrencies, Google has extended this functionality to cover addresses across five additional Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) networks. This move is aimed at providing a more inclusive search experience for the burgeoning cryptocurrency community.
When a blockchain address is searched, Google displays a detailed card showing the balance of the Bitcoin wallet linked to the address in question, along with the time of the last update. It’s important to highlight that the information reflects the wallet’s status following its most recent transaction.
The supported formats for these addresses include P2PKH, P2SH, and Bech32. However, addresses that extend public keys are not yet accommodated by this feature.
Expanding its scope, Google has also integrated the ability to search for Ethereum balances on various EVM-compatible networks. These include Arbitrum, Avalanche, Fantom, Optimism, and Polygon. This development signifies Google’s commitment to meeting the diverse needs of cryptocurrency users.
Following Ethereum and ENS, Google now supports searching for Bitcoin, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Polygon and Fantom on-chain wallet addresses. However, the last update timestamp shows the balance at the time of the last external transaction, and the update is not immediate.…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 29, 2024
This feature builds upon Google’s existing cryptocurrency-related tools, such as the capability to look up Bitcoin’s price by searching “BTC USD”, similar to how one might check the price of traditional stocks.
Through integrating these cryptocurrency functionalities, Google aims to simplify access to information on digital assets and provide insightful data on the evolving cryptocurrency market.
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The introduction of this feature has sparked a debate around privacy.
While many see it as a step towards the mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies, others, particularly those valuing privacy within the Bitcoin community, express concerns about the potential risks of centralized data collection.
