Better Mortgage and Coinbase have launched a Bitcoin-backed mortgage product in the U.S., enabling homebuyers to use Bitcoin as collateral for down payments without liquidating holdings.
The offering combines a Fannie Mae-backed primary mortgage with a separate down payment loan secured by Bitcoin. Borrowers must pledge Bitcoin worth at least 250% of the down payment loan amount, with the collateral held in a Coinbase Prime custodial account managed by Better. Both loans share the same interest rate and repayment term, consolidated into a single monthly payment.
The pledged Bitcoin is returned to the borrower upon full repayment or refinancing of the mortgage, subject to loan terms. Bitcoin price volatility does not trigger margin calls or alter mortgage terms, though Better retains the right to liquidate the collateral if a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent on payments.
Eligibility requires U.S. residency, a verified Coinbase account, and compliance with Better’s credit, income, and underwriting standards. Coinbase One members receive a 1% rebate from Better toward closing costs and fees, capped at $10,000.
The product follows an earlier pilot phase announced in March and reflects broader efforts to integrate digital assets into U.S. mortgage underwriting. In June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop proposals allowing consideration of cryptocurrency held on regulated exchanges as mortgage risk assessment assets, without requiring conversion to U.S. dollars.
The FHFA directive also mandated risk-mitigation measures for crypto volatility and required board approval of proposed changes before review. Other lenders, including Newrez, have similarly begun recognizing certain cryptocurrency holdings in mortgage evaluations since February, covering both purchases and refinancing.
The expansion of Bitcoin-backed financing coincides with U.S. housing prices remaining near historic highs, with the median sales price of a new home around $400,000 in 2026, according to Federal Reserve data.
