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DaLand CUSO Earns First-Ever Level 4 Blockchain Certification for Core-Native Digital Asset Bridge

By Lauren Towner · 6 October 2026

Press Release: DaLand CUSO Earns First-Ever Level 4 Blockchain Certification for Core-Native Digital Asset Bridge | Featured Image by FF News

DaLand CUSO’s Coin2Core platform has achieved the first Level 4 “Production” rating from the Government Blockchain Association, providing independent validation for embedding digital assets directly into legacy banking cores. For fintech professionals, this marks a shift from experimental "bolt-on" crypto features toward a regulated, native infrastructure that keeps member capital within the institution’s primary ecosystem.

What was announced

DaLand CUSO has received a Level 4 “Production” rating under the Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM) for its Coin2Core bridge. This rating, awarded by the Government Blockchain Association (GBA), serves as technical and operational validation for a system that connects traditional credit union cores to money networks including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, XRP, and Solana. The Level 4 designation actually exceeded DaLand’s initial application for a Level 3 assessment, as reviewers identified capabilities that surpassed the lower tier's requirements.

The platform utilizes the MIDAS© Hybrid Custody architecture, which differentiates itself from common omnibus custody models. Instead of pooling assets into a single balance, MIDAS assigns a private key to every individual account. Security is managed through a distributed control system across independent environments, requiring coordinated authorization from the customer, the financial institution, and additional security layers before any movement of assets can occur. This architecture allows digital assets to be reported on the same statements as traditional deposits and remains visible to NCUA examiners.

Coin2Core is currently in production at institutions such as St. Cloud Financial Credit Union. It is designed to run natively on major industry cores, specifically Corelation KeyStone, Jack Henry Symitar, and Fiserv DNA. By integrating at the core level, the system ensures that digital wealth anchors the broader deposit, payment, and lending relationships rather than functioning as a disconnected side-channel.

"Most institutions are being told their digital asset strategy is a choice of vendor. It isn’t. It’s a choice of whether the business stays in your core or leaves it. We built Coin2Core from inside the core because that’s where the return is and that’s where the customer relationship lives. This certification is independent confirmation that the approach holds up in production."

Jon Ungerland, CIO/Chief of Staff at DaLand CUSO.

The companies involved

DaLand CUSO is a Credit Union Service Organization built specifically to address the intersection of core banking operations and emerging financial technology. Unlike many fintech providers that originate from the crypto sector and seek distribution through banks, DaLand was established from within the banking industry. It is collaboratively owned by the financial institutions it serves, positioning it as a shared infrastructure provider rather than a traditional third-party vendor.

St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, a primary user of the Coin2Core system, has been a central figure in the adoption of digital asset custody within the credit union movement. Jed Meyer, who serves as the President and CEO of St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, also holds the position of Chairman of the DaLand Board of Directors. The Government Blockchain Association (GBA), led by Executive Director Gerard Daché, is the international professional body responsible for the Blockchain Maturity Model. The BMM provides a framework for evaluating the governance, technical reliability, and operational maturity of blockchain solutions, offering a standardized benchmark for institutional due diligence.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely tracked the digital asset evolution at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union. In early 2026, the institution made waves by launching the CU-Digital Asset Vault™, a move designed to provide secure, core-integrated crypto custody with human support. Shortly thereafter, the credit union reached a significant operational milestone, surpassing 10 Bitcoin in its digital asset vault. The leadership's influence on the broader sector was further highlighted when CEO Jed Meyer participated in the NCUA’s Vision250 Roundtables to discuss the industry's future. Additionally, the credit union's focus on innovation was recognized when Chase Larson won the 2026 Tech Visionary Award for his work on credit union digital asset integration.

What this means

This announcement highlights a growing tension in the market between "referral" models and "native" integration. For years, community banks and credit unions have been pressured to refer customers to external exchanges, effectively exporting their liquidity and data to third parties. The validation of a core-native approach suggests that the industry is moving toward a model where digital assets are treated as a standard balance sheet item rather than a high-risk outlier. This puts significant pressure on third-party wallet providers and exchanges that rely on siphoning capital away from traditional institutions. The primary question now facing the sector is whether regulators will continue to favor these integrated, transparent models over the opaque omnibus structures common in the wider crypto market.

Companies in this story: Government Blockchain Association, DaLand CUSO

People in this story: Jon Ungerland, Gerard Daché, Jed Meyer

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