Google Cloud Unveils Universal Ledger Blockchain to Compete with Stripe and Circle

Google Cloud is advancing its Web3 ambitions with the development of the Universal Ledger (GCUL), a layer-1 blockchain tailored for financial institutions. The platform, which supports Python-based smart contracts, is designed to be credibly neutral—unlike competitors Stripe and Circle, whose blockchains are tied to their proprietary payment ecosystems.

CME Group is currently testing GCUL for tokenization and payments, with broader market trials expected ahead of a planned 2026 launch. Google positions the blockchain as "planet-scale" infrastructure capable of serving billions of users, directly challenging Stripe’s Tempo and Circle’s Arc.

The MOVE marks Google’s latest foray into Web3 following the establishment of its dedicated blockchain division in 2022. Rich Widmann, Google’s head of Web3 strategy, emphasized the project’s potential to simplify cross-border payments and asset settlements through a distributed ledger.