Cloud Computing

Definition ∞ Cloud computing involves the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet. These services are typically offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, allowing organizations to access resources on demand without significant upfront investment in physical hardware. It provides flexibility and scalability for data processing and application hosting.
Context ∞ In the cryptocurrency domain, cloud computing is instrumental for hosting blockchain nodes, running decentralized applications, and managing large datasets for analytics. Major cloud providers are increasingly offering specialized services for blockchain development and deployment, influencing the accessibility and operational costs for new projects. The ongoing discussion often touches upon data security, jurisdictional risks, and the centralization concerns that arise when critical infrastructure relies on third-party cloud services.