Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) at the National Retail Federation show on January 11, 2026. It was built with Shopify, with Etsy, Wayfair, Target and Walmart as founding partners and more than 20 other backers at launch, including Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, American Express, Best Buy and The Home Depot.
Our earlier article covered the basics: what UCP is for, how a purchase works, and how to get ready. Almost nine months later, a lot has changed. The protocol has shipped four spec releases, added new features, set up a formal governance structure that includes some of Google’s biggest rivals, and started moving into grocery, food delivery and travel. This post brings the picture up to date.