Google Cloud has revealed its latest step into blockchain with the launch of the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), a Layer-1 platform designed to power cross-border payments and digital asset settlements.
The move positions Google against established players such as Ripple, Circle, and Stripe, who already dominate global settlement infrastructure.
The announcement comes as Google expands its reach in the crypto ecosystem, including a recent investment boost in Bitcoin miner CleanSpark. According to Rich Widmann, Global Head of Web3 Strategy at Google Cloud, GCUL is engineered to be simple, flexible, and secure, catering primarily to financial institutions. Unlike other settlement networks, GCUL will allow any institution to build on it, avoiding the closed-off nature of proprietary systems.
A Different Approach to Settlements
Widmann explained that GCUL runs Python-based smart contracts, making it easier for developers and financial firms to adopt. He also highlighted Google’s unique advantage in scale and distribution, describing GCUL as a “neutral infrastructure layer” for the global market.
Currently operating as a private testnet, the ledger is being trialed following Google Cloud’s earlier collaboration with CME on tokenized assets. Its design is based on three core principles:
- Simple: Delivered as a service with a single API, reducing integration hurdles across multiple assets and currencies.
- Flexible: Offers high scalability and programmability, enabling automation in payments and asset management.
- Secure: Built with KYC-verified accounts and compliant fee structures within a private, permissioned framework.
Tokenization in Focus
Google’s move reflects a broader push among traditional financial giants into tokenized markets. Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) has already seen explosive adoption in real-world asset tokenization, recording more than 2,200% growth in the segment. Meanwhile, banks like Singapore’s DBS are bringing structured financial products onto Ethereum, signaling rising competition.
With GCUL, Google is not only venturing into settlement infrastructure but also eyeing a stake in the rapidly growing tokenized asset market. If successful, its open and institution-focused blockchain could disrupt existing models and reshape how value moves across borders.
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Source: https://coindoo.com/google-cloud-launches-new-blockchain-to-take-on-ripple-and-circle/