Google has made a new blockchain platform called Google Cloud Universal Ledger, or GCUL. This is a Layer‑1 blockchain made especially for banks, exchanges, and other financial companies. It shows that Google Cloud is not just giving hosting services anymore, but also building its own blockchain technology.
With this, Google wants to compete with companies like JPMorgan’s Onyx, Ripple’s XRP Ledger, Circle’s USDC platform, and Stripe, which already offer blockchain for payments and settlements.
Rich Widmann, the Head of Strategy at Google Cloud, said that GCUL is being made as a neutral platform that all financial companies around the world can use. The idea is to give banks and exchanges a system they can share, without being tied to one company’s platform.
GCUL has five main features. First, it is neutral, so no single company controls it. Second, it allows smart contracts to be written in Python, which most financial developers already know, making it easier to use. Third, it is made mainly for big companies like banks and clearing houses. Fourth, it can handle a very large number of transactions worldwide, so it is very scalable.
Fifth, it is currently being tried out with CME Group, which is one of the leading derivatives markets in the world.
GCUL can be used in many ways. It can turn financial assets like bonds or securities into digital tokens so they can be traded easily. It can make cross‑border payments faster and cheaper. It can also help banks and companies manage their assets better. Many countries and companies are already trying blockchain for these purposes, so Google is joining the market at the right time.
This launch also shows a big change for Google Cloud. Before, it only helped blockchain projects by offering hosting. Now, with GCUL, it is moving into the main financial systems, aiming to serve hundreds of companies and billions of users in the future.
The timing fits global trends. For example, in the Philippines, a lawmaker suggested creating a Bitcoin reserve to help manage the country’s debt. Sports are also using blockchain, like Newcastle United signing a deal with crypto exchange BYDFi. Bitcoin Asia 2025 is growing to be the world’s second-biggest Bitcoin event. All this shows blockchain is becoming important in many areas.
GCUL will face competition. JPMorgan Onyx is already used for bank settlements with JPM Coin. Ripple provides cross‑border payments with XRP Ledger. Circle handles digital dollar payments with USDC. But Google’s GCUL is different because it is neutral and uses Python, which is easier for traditional developers to learn.
Google has not shared all technical details or the exact launch date yet. The first testing phase has started, and more information will come in the next few months. Experts think that with Google’s size, GCUL could become as important for finance as Visa and SWIFT were for global payments.
In short, Google Cloud Universal Ledger is an important step toward making blockchain a solid base for the future of finance. Its neutral setup, wide reach, and easy programming could transform the way banks and businesses manage money, assets, and international payments in the coming years.