NYDIG and Q2 Launch Bitcoin Platform to Help Banks, Credit Unions Transact Bitcoin

The partnership will integrate NYDIG’s digital banking platform into Q2 Digital Banking Platform, leveraging its Innovation Studio, so credit unions and banks can provide bitcoin services to customers, it said.

article-image

Blockworks exclusive art by Axel Rangel

share

key takeaways

  • Five Star Bank and UNIFY Financial Credit Union are the first two financial institutions in the US that enabled the bitcoin trading solution known as Q2 Digital Banking Platform
  • As market and consumer trends evolve, more users are looking for access to Bitcoin, Sean Willet, chief administrative officer at Five Star Bank said in a statement

Q2 Holdings, a provider of digital solutions for banking and lending, has partnered with NYDIG to provide banks and credit unions a platform to buy, sell and hold bitcoin, the companies said in a statement Friday. 

NYDIG is a bitcoin-focused company that provides technology and financial services solutions to banks, insurers, corporations and institutions. It is also a holding company Stone Ridge subsidiary, a $12 billion alternative asset manager. 

The partnership will integrate NYDIG’s digital banking platform into Q2 Digital Banking Platform, leveraging its Innovation Studio, so credit unions and banks can provide bitcoin services to customers, it said. According to a statement, the launch will also help “overcome barriers such as wallets and key management,” according to a statement. 

Five Star Bank and UNIFY Financial Credit Union are the first two financial institutions in the US that enabled the bitcoin trading solution known as Q2 Digital Banking Platform, Q2 and NYDIG announced. 

Five Star Bank is a $5 billion community bank that has about 50 locations, with most near Buffalo, New York. According to its website, UNIFY manages over $3 billion in assets with customers across the US. 

As the market and consumer trends evolve, more users are looking for access to Bitcoin, Sean Willet, chief administrative officer at Five Star Bank said in a statement. 

“The market momentum is building around bitcoin, and by rapidly expanding our network, we are laser-focused on helping banks and credit unions take advantage of this opportunity,” Patrick Sells, NYDIG’s chief innovation officer, said in the release. “We know that the opportunity for financial institutions is real,” Sells added. 

NYDIG is well known for partnering with other financial companies to expand bitcoin’s reach. In September, it joined forces with MVB Bank and Victor Technologies to integrate Bitcoin into MVB’s Banking-as-a-service (BaaS) solutions, Blockworks previously reported.

Separately, in late June, the National Cash Register (NCR) and NYDIG partnered to help US banks offer bitcoin to clients. This partnership was similar to the most recent one with Q2 because it also aimed to provide more access to bitcoin for clients at banks and credit unions.


Are you a UK or EU reader that can’t get enough investor-focused content on digital assets? Join us in London on November 15th and 16th for the Digital Asset Summit (DAS) London. Use code ARTICLE for £75 off your ticket. Buy it now.


Tags

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 18 - 20, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Flashnote Template Presentation (2).jpg

Research

With the recent election, it’s clear that there will be a meaningful shift in crypto regulations and legislation. Trump is likely as pro-crypto as a president can be. He launched (multiple) of his own NFT collections and is launching an Aave wrapper called World Liberty Fi. He has also spoken out and mentioned that he wants to make the United States "the crypto capital of the planet" and transform it into the "Bitcoin superpower of the world". He proposed creating a strategic national Bitcoin stockpile alongside support from Senator Cynthia Lummis, promising to retain 100% of all Bitcoin held by the U.S. government. More importantly, we’re likely to see deregulation across the board in a lot of industries, with crypto being one of them - as Trump has committed to keeping the crypto market largely unregulated. Crypto, DeFi in particular, has historically been knee-capped by overreaching and hostile governmental agencies and regulation by enforcement, as evidenced by the plethora of Wells notices and lawsuits over the past few years. With Donald Trump winning the presidency, Republicans taking control of the Senate, and being on the verge of securing the House, we think it’s likely that crypto realizes positive regulatory clarity. Below, you can find our analysts’ takes:

article-image

Solana is the crowd favorite to potentially flip Ethereum somewhere down the line, and it tends to feel realistic at times

article-image

Of course, a lot has happened since the 600+ survey respondents shared their thoughts between Aug. 15 and Oct. 1

article-image

AI’s future shouldn’t be decided by a handful of tech giants

article-image

A look at software wallet Exodus may show how an SEC shakeup could have a real impact on industry companies

article-image

Co-chairing Trump’s transition team to help fill administration positions is Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick

article-image

Reflect is a delta-neutral currency protocol that lets tokens accrue yield without touching the banking system