New Report Shows Clear Path for Credit Unions to Catch Up on Digital Assets

“Digital Currency at the Credit Union: The Gap Between Interest and Access” is a collaboration between PYMNTS Intelligence and Velera. The report examines the growing disconnect between what younger consumers want from their financial institutions and what many credit unions currently provide regarding digital currencies.

While interest in cryptocurrency and stablecoins remains limited among the broader population, the data shows that millennials and Gen Z are far more engaged. Many already see digital assets as a normal part of the financial landscape, whether for investing, payments or future financial flexibility. Yet most credit union members still do not know whether their institution offers any form of crypto or stablecoins access, and many assume the answer is no.

That gap creates a strategic challenge for credit unions. The report makes clear that digital currency does not yet demand a full-scale institutional pivot, and it does not suggest that most members are ready to use bitcoin or stablecoins in everyday spending. At the same time, doing nothing carries its own risk. Younger consumers who want these tools are already learning to find them elsewhere, often through digital-first platforms such as Coinbase, Robinhood or Cash App. Over time, that behavior could shape broader banking relationships, especially as younger members make bigger decisions about where to save, borrow and invest.

The report points to a more measured path forward: focus on digital wallet capabilities that make digital currency access feel familiar, simple and low friction rather than treating crypto as a standalone product strategy. Across the survey, wallet-based access consistently lifts interest in both cryptocurrency and stablecoins, suggesting that interface and ease of use may be more important than launching an expansive digital asset offering.

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Consumer uncertainty is shaping the opportunity. Two-thirds of credit union members do not know whether their institution supports cryptocurrency, and 70% are unsure about stablecoins. That signals a wide gap between emerging interest and current awareness of digital currency.

Stablecoins still lack a clear consumer identity. The report finds that consumers do not sharply distinguish stablecoins from crypto, even though the industry does. Interest in stablecoins payments trails crypto payments only slightly, suggesting the sector has more work to do to explain stablecoins’ practical use cases.

Wallet design may be the most practical next move. Interest in both cryptocurrency and stablecoins rises when access is framed through a digital wallet, including among credit union members overall. For many institutions, that points to wallet infrastructure and partnerships as the clearest near-term opening.

About the Playbook

“Digital Currency at the Credit Union: The Gap Between Interest and Access” is based on a survey of 13,918 U.S. consumers alongside credit union decision-makers, conducted between Oct. 31 and Dec. 30, 2025. The consumer sample was balanced to reflect the U.S. adult population by age, gender, education and income. The report examines consumer demand for cryptocurrency and stablecoin services, as well as credit unions’ plans to meet that demand.