The head of Web3 strategy at Google Cloud recently utilized a LinkedIn post to reveal additional information about the company’s upcoming layer-1 blockchain, the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL).
Rich Widmann outlined that this blockchain is a product of “years of R&D at Google,” crafted to be credibly neutral and compatible with Python-based smart contracts.
Widmann indicated that GCUL aims to function as an open infrastructure layer for financial entities. He remarked, “Tether won’t utilize Circle’s blockchain — and Adyen likely won’t use Stripe’s blockchain,” proposing that the neutrality of Google’s network may encourage broader adoption.
Both Stripe and Circle are also exploring layer-1 blockchains, with Circle unveiling Arc, an open network optimized for stablecoin finance, and Stripe developing a covert project codenamed Tempo in collaboration with crypto venture firm Paradigm.
According to a chart shared by Widmann, while Stripe is leveraging its $1.4 trillion payments network and Circle is focusing Arc on USDC, Google Universal Ledger is envisioned as a “planet-scale” blockchain boasting billions of users and bank-grade functionality.
Google Cloud anticipates sharing more technical details regarding the blockchain “in the coming months,” as stated by Widmann.
Since at least 2018, Google Cloud has been expanding its presence in blockchain technology, beginning with the integration of Bitcoin data into its Big Query warehouse, later adding support for Ethereum and over a dozen other networks.
This initiative gained momentum in 2022 with the establishment of a dedicated Web3 division, which has since facilitated partnerships with companies such as Coinbase, Polygon, and Solana.
Related: How to leverage Google Gemini for improved crypto trading
Google Cloud collaborates with CME on Universal Ledger
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group is currently partnering with Google Cloud to test the Universal Ledger for tokenization and payment solutions.
This collaboration was announced in March, revealing a pilot program to evaluate tokenized asset settlement and wholesale payment systems — specific assets are yet to be disclosed, with full market participant trials slated to commence in 2026.
CME chairman and CEO Terry Duffy remarked that the Universal Ledger could “provide substantial efficiencies for collateral, margin, settlement, and fee payments as the world transitions to round-the-clock trading.”
By securing a pilot with CME, which realized record revenue of $1.7 billion in Q2 2025 through average daily volumes of 30.2 million contracts, Google is aiming to tap into the foundational framework of global finance.
This latest development regarding Google’s layer-1 blockchain comes at a time when many tech and fintech companies are advancing their own blockchain initiatives.
Plasma, a startup supported by investors linked to Tether, announced plans in February to create a settlement-focused layer-1 for USDt after securing $24 million in funding.
In June, Robinhood introduced tokenized US stocks and ETFs for its European clientele. These tokens are presently issued on Arbitrum, but the company intends to migrate them to its own native layer-2 blockchain in the future.
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