Inman News
A new offering could expand the buyer pool
Fannie Mae is preparing to accept crypto-backed mortgages for the first time, a move that could bring digital assets further into mainstream home financing.
The new product — developed by Better and Coinbase — allows buyers to pledge cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or USD Coin, to fund a down payment, rather than selling those holdings, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
For agents, the shift could potentially widen the buyer pool, particularly among clients who hold significant wealth in crypto but lack liquid cash or traditional securities for a down payment.
Borrowers seeking to utilize the new offering would take out a standard conforming mortgage that can be sold to Fannie Mae, alongside a second loan secured by their crypto. That second loan effectively replaces the cash down payment.
The structure allows buyers to retain exposure to crypto markets — avoiding potential capital gains taxes or missed upside — while still qualifying for financing. But it also increases costs, since borrowers are carrying two loans, with rates that can run up to 1.5 percentage points higher than standard mortgages, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Fannie Mae doesn’t originate loans but sets the underwriting standards used across much of the mortgage market. Its acceptance of crypto-backed structures could signal broader legitimacy for a product that has so far remained niche.
About 14 percent of U.S. adults owned cryptocurrency in 2025, according to Gallup, and nearly 13 percent of Gen Z and millennial buyers have sold crypto to help fund home purchases, according to a 2025 Redfin survey cited by The Wall Street Journal.