Google Cloud’s head of Web3 technique used a LinkedIn publish to share new particulars on the corporate’s in-development layer-1 blockchain, the Google Cloud Common Ledger (GCUL).
Wealthy Widmann described the blockchain as the results of “years of R&D at Google,” designed to be credibly impartial and appropriate with Python-based sensible contracts.
In keeping with Widmann, GCUL is supposed to function an open infrastructure layer for monetary establishments. “Tether received’t use Circle’s blockchain — and Adyen in all probability received’t use Stripe’s blockchain,” he stated, suggesting that Google’s community reported neutrality may assist broaden adoption.
Stripe and Circle are additionally betting on layer-1 blockchains. Circle just lately unveiled Arc, an open community optimized for stablecoin finance, whereas Stripe is creating a stealth undertaking code-named Tempo in partnership with crypto enterprise agency Paradigm.
In keeping with a chart shared by Widmann, whereas Stripe is leaning on its $1.4 trillion funds community and Circle is centering Arc on USDC, Google Common Ledger shall be a “planet-scale” blockchain with billions of customers and bank-grade performance.
Google Cloud expects to publish extra technical particulars in regards to the blockchain “within the coming months,” Widmann stated.
Google Cloud has been increasing into blockchain expertise since no less than 2018, when it added Bitcoin knowledge to its Large Question warehouse and later extended support to Ethereum and greater than a dozen different networks.
The push accelerated in 2022 with the launch of a dedicated Web3 division, which has since led partnerships with corporations like Coinbase, Polygon and Solana.
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Google Cloud exams Common Ledger with CME
The Chicago Mercantile Change (CME) Group is presently working with Google Cloud to test the Universal Ledger for tokenization and funds.
The collaboration was disclosed in March, when the businesses introduced a pilot to check tokenized asset settlement and wholesale cost programs — although the particular belongings weren’t revealed, and full market participant trials are set to start in 2026.
On the time, CME chairman and CEO Terry Duffy stated the Common Ledger may “ship important efficiencies for collateral, margin, settlement and payment funds because the world strikes towards 24/7 buying and selling.”
By securing a pilot with CME, which posted file income of $1.7 billion in Q2 2025 on common each day volumes of 30.2 million contracts, Google is concentrating on the core plumbing of worldwide finance.
The newest replace from Google about its L1 comes amid a broader wave of tech and fintech corporations creating their very own blockchains.
Plasma, a startup backed by Tether-linked buyers, introduced in February plans to construct a settlement-focused layer-1 for USDt after elevating $24 million.
In June, Robinhood launched tokenized US stocks and ETFs for its European clients. The tokens are presently issued on Arbitrum, however the firm plans emigrate them to its personal native layer‑2 blockchain sooner or later.
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