Amazon Embraces Distributed Ledger Through R3, Shuns Other Blockchain Solutions

AWS and R3 reach an agreement for implementation of distributed ledger technology solutions.
AWS and R3 reach an agreement for implementation of distributed ledger technology solutions.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a partnership with R3 to allow the company’s Corda platform to become one of the first ever distributed ledger technology solutions on the AWS. Corda allows users to deploy DApps onto the AWS platform and to create new apps directly.

The relative victory for R3 comes on the heels of a difficult year as the company has been embroiled in a heated legal battle with Ripple over an unfulfilled token purchase agreement that would net R3 a $1 bln profit. A recent ruling also seems to have pushed the company’s hopes for victory even further away.

Amazon…Blockchain…Bitcoin?

Amazon’s slow embrace of Blockchain technology and other applications built on it has been something of an enigma. Just last week AWS CEO Andy Jassy said that the company would not embrace Blockchain technology, even as competitor Overstock was one of the first and earliest embracers of cryptocurrency payments. While rumors have come and gone regarding Amazon’s willingness to accept Bitcoin, nothing has been announced.

AWS’ acceptance of R3’s distributed ledger technology may signal a future for Amazon becoming more friendly to the nascent but disruptive technology.