Credit Unions Get Direct Access to Bitcoin with Circuit's Digital Asset Initiative

Credit unions are gaining direct access to Bitcoin and other digital assets without relying on external platforms thanks to the Circuit's Digital Asset Initiative. This program, launched by DaLand CUSO in collaboration with Circuit, an 80-member credit union collaborative, integrates digital asset capabilities directly into core banking systems from Corelation KeyStone, Fiserv DNA, and Jack Henry Symitar.

DaLand's CODE Engine and Coin2Core technology enable participating institutions to retain custody, member relationships, and data, rather than routing customers to third-party crypto platforms. The Hybrid Custody model allows credit unions to maintain control over their digital asset activities.

Three credit unions are already live on the platform: St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, which issued its own stablecoin $CLDUSD; Canvas Credit Union, a $5 billion institution that became a DaLand owner after deployment; and Blaze Credit Union, which also invested as an owner. Together, DaLand's production footprint now covers credit unions representing more than $10 billion in combined assets.

The announcement comes as federal digital-asset legislation pushes financial institutions to formalize their crypto strategies. Executives framed the move as a shift from studying digital assets to actually deploying them. Canvas CIO David Pierce stated, 'We weren't looking for another concept to study,' adding that the credit union wanted infrastructure it could own rather than rent.

Blaze's Justin Burleson, a former NCUA official, said his institution wanted digital asset activity to stay visible to 'examiners, boards, and members,' rather than sit with an outside vendor. Circuit's Chief Strategy Officer Ethan Cunningham stated, 'Innovation moves faster when credit unions share what they're learning.' Credit unions interested in joining can contact either organization directly.