Bow Valley Credit Union (BVCU) has partnered with Balance and Bull Bitcoin to roll out Canada’s first ‘Bitcoin Gateway’, a service allowing members to buy Bitcoin directly from their BVCU accounts. Starting today, members can buy Bitcoin directly from their BVCU account through their app, enabling straightforward purchases of bitcoin with Canadian dollars without needing deep, technical knowledge and keeping full ownership title of the bitcoin.

The Bitcoin Gateway platform serves as a bridge between BVCU, Balance and Bull Bitcoin, unlocking a secure and ease-to-use way to accumulate actual bitcoin. “Unlike platforms offering crypto derivatives or pooled products, the Bitcoin purchased here is fully owned by the user, securely stored, insured, and never leveraged,” the companies told Bitcoin Magazine in a joint statement.

Balance, Canada’s oldest bitcoin custodian since 2017, handles custody, while Bull Bitcoin’s API integration ensures competitive, real-time pricing. This setup lets users sidestep complex trading platforms, making bitcoin accessible to both newcomers and seasoned holders. (Bull Bitcoin doesn’t handle custody, remaining a non-custodial exchange.)

“This is an exciting partnership for Bull Bitcoin as this marks the first large-scale integration of

the Bull Bitcoin API to facilitate the institutional adoption of Bitcoin,” added Francis Pouliot, CEO of Bull

Bitcoin, the company providing fiat and bitcoin liquidity to the partnership. Founded in Montreal in 2013, Bull Bitcoin is one of the oldest Bitcoin exchanges in Canada with a strong focus on user privacy and technological innovation.

Serving Alberta since 1953, the Bow Valley Credit Union has built a reputation for member-focused banking that challenges traditional models. The Bitcoin Gateway reflects this ethos, offering a practical way for members to hedge against inflation or diversify their portfolios. For Bitcoin’s growing community, this move signals mainstream traction and maturation, as financial institutions begin integrating the asset into everyday banking.

Members can sign up for the Bitcoin Gateway directly through their BVCU accounts, with early access available now. The service’s simplicity — buying bitcoin in a few clicks — could set a precedent for other Canadian credit unions, potentially accelerating bitcoin adoption nationwide. While BVCU only serves Alberta residents today, George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO of Balance, told Bitcoin Magazine that “Eventually we’ll open this up more broadly to the Canadian public… Our goal at Balance is to give a wallet to every Canadian user with their name and title on it.”

As businesses and individuals increasingly view bitcoin as a store of value, BVCU’s initiative positions it as a forward-thinking player in Alberta’s financial landscape.