T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, has recently entered the blockchain space as a validator on the popular Ethereum scaling solution, Polygon. Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiary, Deutsche Telekom MMS, will physically run nodes on Polygon, joining 100 other validators on the platform, according to a press release.
In addition to acting as a validator, Deutsche Telekom will also provide staking services to Polygon’s Supernets. These application-specific chains aim to bridge associated rootchains to the mainnet, bringing greater scalability and interoperability for decentralized applications (dApps). This is expected to unlock the potential of blockchain technology, enabling mass deployment of applications.
Dirk Röder, head of Deutsche Telekom’s Blockchain Solutions Center, said in a statement that running Polygon nodes is an important step for Deutsche Telekom MMS to fully exploit the potential of blockchain technology. He added that Deutsche Telekom will support Polygon’s staking, although it remains unclear whether the company plans to offer staking services directly to the public.
Röder also mentioned that the company is making significant commitments to expand its presence and reliability as an infrastructure provider in the Web3 domain. Supporting the Polygon network as a validator is a crucial milestone in achieving this objective. In addition, Deutsche Telekom MMS is working on an advanced solution tailored specifically for the Ethereum network, with more details yet to be revealed.
This move by Deutsche Telekom represents their growing interest in the blockchain industry, as they have previously run infrastructure for other chains such as Flow, Celo, Chainlink, and Ethereum itself. While the company joins the world of decentralization as a validator, it faces some skepticism. One of the key concerns is the security of the network and if a large corporation like Deutsche Telekom will have too much control over it.
On the other hand, Deutsche Telekom’s entry into the blockchain space lends credibility and support to the still-nascent technology. Introducing the telecommunications giant into the world of decentralized finance will likely attract more large-scale investors and contribute to the growth of the ecosystem. This association between blockchain and traditional industries has the potential to drive innovation and open up new possibilities for companies looking to optimize their operations.
With Polygon’s growing popularity as an Ethereum scaling solution, along with Deutsche Telekom’s entry as a validator on the platform, the future of blockchain technology seems to be heading in a positive direction. However, it remains vital for the community to closely monitor the impact of large corporations on the decentralized nature of the technology to ensure a fair playing field for all parties involved.
Source: Blockworks
