Google's "Universal Ledger" vision emerges amidst growing institutional interest in blockchain solutions and applications.

Aug 27, 2025
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Google is stepping up its efforts in the blockchain space with its "Universal Ledger," a Layer 1 blockchain designed for financial institutions. Rich Widmann, Head of Web3 Strategy at Google Cloud, recently shared details about the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), highlighting its focus on neutrality, performance, and compatibility with Python-based smart contracts.

GCUL aims to provide an open infrastructure layer that can be used by various financial institutions. Widmann pointed out that companies are unlikely to adopt blockchains developed by their competitors, suggesting that Google's neutral network could encourage wider adoption. Google Cloud has been expanding into blockchain technology since 2018, initially by adding Bitcoin data to its BigQuery warehouse and later extending support to Ethereum and other networks. In 2022, Google Cloud launched a dedicated Web3 division, leading to partnerships with firms like Coinbase, Polygon, and Solana.

GCUL is currently running in a private testnet mode. CME Group, one of the world's largest commodities exchanges, is already piloting tokenization and payment use cases on GCUL, with plans for broader services in 2026. CME Group completed an initial phase of trials with GCUL earlier this year and intends to conduct further testing with market participants in 2025. The project is focused on modernizing settlement, collateral, and fee processes within institutional finance.

Google Cloud emphasizes that GCUL is designed to be a "credibly neutral" platform for financial institutions. Unlike blockchains from companies like Stripe and Circle, which are closely tied to their payment stacks, GCUL is presented as an infrastructure layer that any bank or payments firm can adopt. Google Cloud describes GCUL as a single API-based service that simplifies automated payments and digital asset management. The platform is designed to be scalable, programmable, and capable of integrating with any wallet, with compliance in mind and operating as a private and permissioned system.

GCUL represents a significant shift in Google Cloud's blockchain strategy. Previously, Google Cloud was known for providing cloud infrastructure to blockchain projects. Now, Google is building its own proprietary ledger. The initiative was first introduced in March 2025 in partnership with CME Group. According to Widmann, GCUL is designed to be "performant, credibly neutral" and suitable for various financial use cases. Google Cloud expects to release more technical details about GCUL in the coming months.

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Priya Joshi

Driven by social justice, a commitment to advocacy, and a passion for sports, Priya is focusing her early journalistic efforts on highlighting inequality and marginalization in her community. She's learning to report on sensitive topics with empathy and accuracy, ensuring vulnerable voices are heard. Her dedication to sports also fuels her understanding of fair play and collective effort, principles she brings to her reporting.