At Bread Cooperative, we believe the tools for a fairer financial system already exist. For centuries, communities have found ways to make ends meet. As worker self-directed nonprofit building on crypto rails, our job is to find these tools, dust them off, and bring them to the communities that need them most. Savings circles are one such tool.

A group of people pool a fixed amount regularly, and each member takes turns receiving the full pot. This entire system works through interpersonal connections and social trust. Variations on this practice can be found all over the world: Tandas (Mexico), Hui (China), Esusu (Nigeria), Chit fund (India) and Gameya (Egypt) to name a few.

These practices are widely known as ROSCAs, or Rotating Savings and Credit Accounts, and for the sake of clarity we will use this term and savings circles interchangeably throughout the article.

ROSCAs are by no means an extinct ancient practice, nor are they niche. This largely invisible layer of the global economy handles over $500 billion annually. Participation rates in regions of West Africa include up to 95% of adults. CARE International's savings program has over 30 million members across 67 countries.

The research shows widespread benefits to engaging in community savings practices, with strength lying in the collective. A 2025 study in Vietnam showed ROSCA participants consistently outperformed solo savers. CARE data shows members are up to 85% more likely to have emergency savings compared to non-members.

Bread Stacks is how we take this resilient, time-tested practice online, international and onchain. Our FREE guide covers the basics of ROSCAs in much more detail, and you can download it on our Linktree. You can see an early version of Bread Stacks in action by clicking on the embed below. We frequently hold educational webinars, and they are always free to attend. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to be notified of the next one.

At Bread Cooperative, we believe the tools for a fairer financial system already exist. For centuries, communities have found ways to make ends meet. As worker self-directed nonprofit building on crypto rails, our job is to find these tools, dust them off, and bring them to the communities that need them most. Savings circles are one such tool.

A group of people pool a fixed amount regularly, and each member takes turns receiving the full pot. This entire system works through interpersonal connections and social trust. Variations on this practice can be found all over the world: Tandas (Mexico), Hui (China), Esusu (Nigeria), Chit fund (India) and Gameya (Egypt) to name a few.

These practices are widely known as ROSCAs, or Rotating Savings and Credit Accounts, and for the sake of clarity we will use this term and savings circles interchangeably throughout the article.

ROSCAs are by no means an extinct ancient practice, nor are they niche. This largely invisible layer of the global economy handles over $500 billion annually. Participation rates in regions of West Africa include up to 95% of adults. CARE International's savings program has over 30 million members across 67 countries.

The research shows widespread benefits to engaging in community savings practices, with strength lying in the collective. A 2025 study in Vietnam showed ROSCA participants consistently outperformed solo savers. CARE data shows members are up to 85% more likely to have emergency savings compared to non-members.

Bread Stacks is how we take this resilient, time-tested practice online, international and onchain. Our FREE guide covers the basics of ROSCAs in much more detail, and you can download it on our Linktree. You can see an early version of Bread Stacks in action by clicking on the embed below. We frequently hold educational webinars, and they are always free to attend. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to be notified of the next one.