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.