Google Cloud is moving forward with the plans to launch its own cape-1 (L1) Blockchain, positioning the network as a neutral infrastructure for global finances at a time when Fintech competitors are developing their own distributed accounting books.
In a LinkedIn publication published on Tuesday, Rich Widmann, head of Google Strategy of Web3, provided new details about the project, known as Google Cloud Universal Ledger (Gcul). He described the platform as a high -performance high performance block chain designed for institutions, which support Python -based intelligent contracts to be more accessible to developers and financial engineers.
“Any financial institution can build with GCUL,” said Widmann, arguing that, although it is unlikely that companies such as Tether adopt the block chain and Circle’s payment companies such as Adyen can doubt in using Stripe’s, Google’s neutral infrastructure eliminates those barriers.
It also expanded in a comparative table of the Fintech Chuk Okpalugo strategist, highlighting how Gcul differs from Stripe’s tempo and the Arc de Circle, two other high -profile L1 efforts.
When establishing the case of Google for the universal main book, Widmann attracted contrasts with other high profile participants.
Stripe’s project, tempo, is based on its empire of payments, effectively extending the company’s existing commercial rails to a chain run over vertically. The Circle arch, on the other hand, places its stable in the center of the system, treating the USDC as the native fuel of the protocol and the promising ray settlement with incorporated currency change.
The Google approach is even different: the universal main book is designed as a shared infrastructure layer, aimed at being credible and accessible to any institution instead of linking to a single payment ecosystem.
The timelines also distinguish the projects. Circle has already begun to pilot the arch, while Stripe points to a release next year. Google and CME, in the meantime, have completed an initial integration of GULC, with broader tests that will continue later this year and the complete services expected in 2026.
The distribution history reinforces those distinctions. Stripe can rely on more than one billion dollars in annual merchant payment flows. Circle can count on the integrations of liquidity and global footprint of USDC. Google brings the scope of its cloud platform, along with the promise of climbing a major book that can admit billions of users and hundreds of institutions.
The characteristics even more differentiate chains. The ARC approach is the speed and exchange without problems, Tempo’s is the integration of merchants, and Gul is programability through Python -based smart contracts and institutional degree tokenization.
The result, Widmann argued, is a divergent positioning. Stripe and Circle’s accounting books can serve their own ecosystems well, but risk dissupping competitors, while Google is launching Gul as a neutral land, a book greater than any person, from exchanges to payment suppliers, can use without fear of strengthening a rival.
Institutional positioning is not new.
In March, Google Cloud and CME Group jointly announced Gul, revealing it as a programmable major book adapted for wholesale payments and asset token.
CME Group said that he had already completed the first phase of integration and test, describing technology as a possible advance for guarantees, liquidation and rates payments in the markets that are increasingly moving towards trade 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“As the president and the new administration have encouraged Congress to create historical legislation for the structure of the common sense market, we are pleased to associate with Google Cloud to allow innovative solutions for the digital transfer of low -cost digital value,” said the president and CEO of CME, Terry Duffy, at that time. He suggested that GCC could offer significant efficiencies in the central functions of the market, including margin and collateral management.
According to the announcement of March, CME and Google plan to start direct evidence with market participants at the end of this year, with the view of the launch services in 2026. Widmann’s comments on August 26 add new details to that roadmap, which reinforces Gul’s role as an infrastructure designed to be widely adopted throughout the financial sector instead of controlling a single payments.
By placing Gul against Stripe’s tempo and Circle’s arch, Google is pointing out that competition between the main technology companies to define the next generation of financial liquidation rails is accelerating.
The technical details about Gul’s architecture are still limited, although Widmann said they will launch more in the coming months. For now, Google presents the universal main book as a basis for global payments, institutional token and infrastructure of capital markets all day.
Read more: Why circle and stripes (And many others) They are throwing their own blockchains
