Stablecore has launched an early-access pilot program for U.S. credit unions, allowing participating institutions to test blockchain-based financial services before deciding whether to integrate them into their banking platforms. The program went live on June 24, 2025 and is announced through a partnership between Stablecore, Circuit (formerly known as Members Development Company), and Curql, a fintech investment collective representing more than 160 credit unions. The initial group includes RBFCU, Stanford Federal Credit Union, and La Capitol Federal Credit Union, with the participating institutions representing about $25 billion in combined assets. Credit unions serve over 130 million members across the US, making this pilot program significant for the broader credit union ecosystem.
The pilot program covers three main service areas: stablecoin payments, tokenized deposits, and digital asset accounts. According to Stablecore, the products are designed to operate within existing digital banking experiences, with the company targeting lending, settlements, and remittances as key use cases for 2026. The program now includes Bitcoin (BTC) on- and off-ramps and staking capabilities, allowing credit unions to evaluate comprehensive blockchain-enabled functions. The program is built around 1:1 cash-backed stablecoins, meaning every digital dollar is supposedly matched by an actual dollar sitting in reserve. As reported by Stablecore, participating credit unions will be able to evaluate these services through the platform before deciding whether to offer them to members, with the initiative specifically targeting credit unions with roughly $25 billion in combined assets to broaden participation beyond larger institutions.
According to Stablecore, the program also includes comprehensive education for credit union staff and members to support future digital asset adoption. The company has positioned the pilot as an educational exercise, not just a technical one, with participating credit unions receiving compliance assistance and structured guidance to help their teams understand the regulatory landscape around digital assets. CEO and co-founder Alex Treece stated that the initiative helps credit unions stay relevant against competitive threats, retain their deposits, and continue to be the trusted, primary financial partner for their members. The initiative allows credit unions to attract and retain members looking for digital asset capabilities who might otherwise move deposits to competitive alternatives, including fintechs, neobanks and crypto companies. Stablecore has strengthened its market position through strategic partnerships, including joining the Jack Henry Fintech Integration Network in February 2025, which provides access to approximately 1,670 core banking clients including banks and credit unions.
Stablecore has strengthened its market position through several strategic partnerships and funding rounds. In September 2025, the company raised $20 million in a funding round with backing from over 200 financial institutions. On March 24, 2025, Stablecore announced an integration with Q2, a major digital banking platform that serves hundreds of banks and credit unions. Then on April 9, 2025, a partnership with TRM Labs followed, bringing blockchain intelligence and compliance monitoring capabilities into the stack. CEO and co-founder Alex Treece has brought on Ben Hailey as Head of Risk and Compliance to oversee governance, risk, and compliance frameworks for partner institutions. The $25 billion combined asset base across three institutions represents a meaningful pilot program, though it remains a fraction of the $2.2 trillion credit union industry.
The pilot program comes as U.S. credit unions have begun preparing for potential stablecoin regulation. In February, the National Credit Union Administration proposed a licensing framework that would require payment stablecoin issuers operating through subsidiaries of federally insured credit unions to obtain an NCUA license before issuing stablecoins. The NCUA's proposed rules were open for public comment through April 13, 2025, with the agency outlining the framework in a press release. The GENIUS Act, which provides a clearer framework for real-world applications of digital assets in financial contexts, has given institutions like credit unions more confidence to experiment with stablecoin technology. The real test will come later in 2026 when these credit unions decide whether to move from testing to full deployment of stablecoin services, with credit unions and their members watching two key developments: how NCUA's stablecoin licensing rules progress from proposal to final guidance, and whether early-access participants can translate tested workflows into compliant, operationally sound integrations within their existing banking infrastructure.
