Google Cloud Previews ‘Universal Ledger’ For Institutional Blockchain Use

Google Cloud has revealed plans for its in-development layer-1 blockchain, the Universal Ledger, designed as an open, neutral platform for financial institutions. Sharing details on LinkedIn, Rich Widmann, head of Web3 strategy, said the project stems from “years of R&D at Google” and will feature Python-based smart contracts.

Unlike Stripe and Circle, which are building blockchains tailored to their own ecosystems, Google is positioning Universal Ledger as a neutral, “planet-scale” network capable of supporting billions of users with bank-grade reliability. Widmann suggested neutrality will be key for institutional adoption, noting that competitors may struggle with ecosystem silos.

Google Cloud has steadily expanded into blockchain since 2018, starting with Bitcoin data in Big Query and later extending support to Ethereum and over a dozen other networks. The Universal Ledger reflects the tech giant’s deeper institutional push, with technical details expected “in the coming months” as competition in institutional blockchains heats up.

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