Stablecoin Awareness Falls Short for 70% of Credit Union Members

Consumers may hear different labels for stablecoins and other cryptocurrency, but many still place both products in the same mental bucket.

That finding sits at the center of “The Wallet Effect: How Credit Unions Can Close the Digital Currency Access Gap,” a June 2026 Credit Union Tracker from PYMNTS Intelligence and Velera. The report finds growing interest in digital currency among younger consumers, alongside limited understanding of how various digital assets work. For credit unions, that gap creates a chance to educate members and introduce services through trusted channels rather than rushing into complex offerings.

Cryptocurrency prices can fluctuate sharply and consumers often view the assets as investments. Stablecoins are generally tied to traditional currencies such as the U.S. dollar and designed to support payments. Yet the report finds that those differences barely register across age groups. Consumers appear to view the two categories like different doors leading into the same room.

Key Findings:

31% of millennials express strong interest in using cryptocurrency for payments.

28% of millennials express strong interest in stablecoin payments, only 3 percentage points below their interest in crypto.

94% of baby boomers and seniors report little or no interest in stablecoin payments, compared with 92% for cryptocurrency.

The results suggest stablecoins have not established a separate identity with most consumers. Crypto has gained broad recognition through years of media coverage and app-based investing. Stablecoins remain less familiar, so consumers often carry over assumptions about crypto, including concerns about volatility.

That uncertainty does not leave credit unions without a path forward. Consumer habits around digital assets are still developing, which gives financial institutions room to explain how the products differ, where they may be useful and what risks they carry.

The report argues for measured engagement built around familiar experiences rather than a rapid move into speculative products.

Digital wallets may offer that bridge. Interest rises when consumers can access digital assets through tools they already use to pay, transfer and manage money. Among millennials, strong interest in cryptocurrency increases from 31% for direct payments to 35% through a digital wallet. Among credit union members, strong interest in stablecoin payments rises from 5% to 12% when wallet access is available. That suggests credit unions can improve relevance by combining education, trusted interfaces and carefully selected partnerships.

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