35% vs. 2%: Crypto Is Creating A Sharp Divide Among Credit Unions
By CU Today Staff —
NEW YORK--Credit unions remain sharply divided over cryptocurrency, with new PYMNTS Intelligence research showing the industry’s most aggressive innovators are already gaining hands-on experience while slower-moving institutions largely remain on the sidelines.
The August 2026 “Credit Union Innovation Readiness” playbook from PYMNTS Intelligence, produced in collaboration with Velera, found 35% of credit unions identifying themselves as early launchers are actively engaged with cryptocurrency. Among self-described laggards, just 2% are actively engaged, creating a 33-percentage-point divide.
PYMNTS reported early launchers are the only group where active crypto engagement, at 35%, exceeds the 30% that say they are well or fully prepared to support it. Among followers, just 6% are actively engaged, compared with 18% that consider themselves prepared, while laggards are at 2% active versus 17% prepared.
The biggest readiness gap, according to PYMNTS, is among quick followers. While 35% say they are well or fully prepared to offer cryptocurrency, only 10% are actively engaged. Overall, three-quarters of credit unions report limited or no member demand for crypto, 46% have no plans to offer it and another 38% are monitoring or researching the market. Just 5% are piloting or offering crypto today, while another 3% describe themselves as active or market leaders.
Members, however, are sending a somewhat different signal. PYMNTS found 17% already own cryptocurrency, increasing to 27% among Gen Z and Millennial members. Among those younger members, 18% say they are very or extremely interested in paying with crypto, compared with just 4% of credit union executives who report strong or critical member demand.
The PYMNTS-Velera research also found early launchers are preparing to broaden their crypto capabilities. Forty-three percent plan to support links to external crypto wallets over the next three years, compared with 25% of laggards, while 35% expect to offer crypto rewards versus 17% of laggards. Early launchers are also more likely to cite execution challenges, with 61% pointing to core-system or technology limitations and 48% citing internal expertise or talent gaps.
Laggards, meanwhile, are more focused on risk, according to PYMNTS, with 43% citing regulatory uncertainty, compared with 22% of early launchers, and 48% citing reputational or brand risk, versus 39%. The findings suggest the crypto divide is increasingly about more than willingness to innovate: Early launchers are accumulating practical experience while many other credit unions remain prepared technologically but unconvinced that member demand warrants moving ahead.
Originally reported by CU Today.