- Coinbase and Better will launch a program by summer 2026 allowing Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for down payments on Fannie Mae-backed mortgages.
- The move follows a 2025 directive from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider crypto in mortgage risk assessments.
- Some U.S. senators have criticized the policy as risky, while Republican lawmakers like Cynthia Lummis have proposed legislation to formalize it.
Starting this summer, qualified borrowers will be able to use their cryptocurrency to buy a home, as Coinbase and partner Better Home & Finance launch a landmark mortgage program. The initiative, first announced in March, will initially accept Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for down payments on apartments backed by Fannie Mae.
This represents a significant shift toward integrating digital assets with traditional home financing. Better CEO Vishal Garg stated the program aims to help buyers who are financially qualified but lack traditional down payment funds.
Consequently, Garg said on X that “It’s what everyone is going to do once most financial assets are tokenized.” This development follows a friendlier U.S. regulatory environment for crypto under the Trump administration.
Specifically, the FHFA directed government-sponsored enterprises to consider crypto assets in mortgage underwriting last June. Other lenders like Newrez have since begun allowing cryptocurrency holdings to qualify for mortgages.
However, the plan faces scrutiny due to the price volatility of assets like Bitcoin. Five U.S. senators accused FHFA head Bill Pulte in 2025 of being “unduly influenced” by political motivations.
Meanwhile, crypto proponent Senator Cynthia Lummis has pushed to codify the policy. She introduced the 21st Century Mortgage Act, arguing agencies must evolve for a modern generation.
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