Trending Now - Fannie Mae Embraces Crypto for Mortgage Collateral via Coinbase
WHO:
Mark Troianovski, Coinbase's head of consumer and platform business development, stated, “People who are sitting on Bitcoin or USDC can put a roof over their head without needing to sell it, without needing to incur capital gains.”
Vishal Garg, CEO of Better Home & Finance, stated, “Better was founded to make homeownership more accessible for all Americans, and this partnership with Coinbase introduces a new pathway to realizing the American Dream for the 52 million Americans who own digital assets.”
Coinbase and Better Home & Finance announced the new structure for mortgage down payments.
Fannie Mae
Coinbase
Better Home & Finance
WHAT:
The mortgage structure allows borrowers to keep earnings rewards from USDC while using it as collateral.
Better Home & Finance's founder, Vishal Garg, mentioned that average homebuyers might struggle to find a $40,000 cash down payment for a $400,000 property due to increased interest rates and stagnant house prices.
Better Home & Finance plans to roll out the crypto-backed mortgage offering sometime in the next three months, as announced on March 24th, 2026.
Among respondents in a National Association of Realtors survey of people who bought a home between July 2024 and June 2025, only 1% used proceeds from the sale of crypto for their down payment.
Shares in Better Home & Finance Holding rose 5.4% on March 24th, 2026, while Coinbase shares fell 4.3%.
Borrowers can pledge Bitcoin valued at $68,832.68 or the USDC stablecoin as collateral for their down payment.
Better Home & Finance's founder, Vishal Garg, stated that 41% of American families fail to buy a home due to insufficient funds for down payments.
Garg mentioned that if Better had previously accepted crypto as down payment collateral, they could have funded an additional $40 billion in consumer demand over the past few years.
Coinbase's spokesman indicated that the rates for crypto-backed mortgages will be higher than a standard 30-year mortgage by between 0.5% and 1.5%, depending on the consumer profile.
The product will be free of margin calls and top-ups, with no additional collateral required if Bitcoin drops in value.
Borrowers’ collateral is at risk of liquidation only after a 60-day payment delinquency, similar to conventional mortgages.
The new structure allows borrowers to use Bitcoin or USDC specifically for cash down payments on conforming mortgages tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans.
Fannie Mae will allow mortgages backed by cryptocurrency holdings.
Borrowers can pledge Bitcoin or USDC to fund the cash down payment on conforming mortgages tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans.
WHERE:
United States
WHEN:
The announcement regarding the new mortgage structure was made on Thursday, March 24th, 2026.
Announcement made on Thursday, March 24th, 2026.
WHY:
The crypto-backed mortgage is designed to provide a pathway for digital-asset holders to access housing without selling their assets, thus avoiding capital gains taxes.
The crypto-backed mortgage is designed in accordance with Fannie Mae guidelines, making them eligible for significantly lower interest rates than other crypto-backed loans.
The shift reflects growing regulatory clarity in the United States regarding cryptocurrency.
HOW:
Borrowers can transfer their digital assets from Coinbase to a custody wallet with Better while retaining ownership rights.
Borrowers will only have to pledge Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for their down payment, allowing them to retain ownership rights and avoid selling their assets.
Coinbase's head of consumer and platform business development, Mark Troianovski, stated that the product allows individuals to access housing without needing to sell their Bitcoin or USDC, thus avoiding capital gains taxes.
The collaboration between Coinbase and Better Home & Finance enables the use of cryptocurrency as collateral for mortgage down payments.
The structure allows digital-asset holders to use nontraditional wealth as part of the homebuying process.
(UPDATED March 27, 2026 11:13 UTC)
In a significant development for digital asset holders, Coinbase's head of consumer and platform business development, Mark Troianovski, announced that a new crypto-backed mortgage structure allows borrowers to use Bitcoin or USDC as collateral without needing to sell their assets or incur capital gains taxes. This innovative approach is particularly timely, as Better Home & Finance's founder, Vishal Garg, highlighted the challenges average homebuyers face in securing a $40,000 cash down payment for a $400,000 property amid rising interest rates and stagnant housing prices. Borrowers can easily transfer their digital assets from Coinbase to a custody wallet with Better while still retaining ownership rights, paving the way for more accessible housing options.
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(UPDATED March 27, 2026 09:14 UTC)
Better Home & Finance is set to launch a crypto-backed mortgage offering within the next three months, a move aimed at making homeownership more accessible for the 52 million Americans who own digital assets, according to CEO Vishal Garg. This innovative mortgage, designed to comply with Fannie Mae guidelines, will allow borrowers to use Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for their down payment while retaining ownership rights, a significant shift from traditional financing methods. Following the announcement on March 24, shares in Better Home & Finance rose by 5.4%, while Coinbase saw a decline of 4.3%.
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(UPDATED March 27, 2026 03:52 UTC)
Borrowers can now use Bitcoin valued at $68,832.68 or the USDC stablecoin as collateral for their down payment, a move aimed at addressing the 41% of American families who struggle to buy homes due to insufficient funds. Vishal Garg, the founder of Better Home & Finance, noted that if crypto had been accepted as collateral earlier, the company could have funded an additional $40 billion in consumer demand. Coinbase's head of consumer and platform business development, Mark Troianovski, explained that this new product allows individuals to access housing without selling their crypto, helping them avoid capital gains taxes.
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(UPDATED March 26, 2026 19:21 UTC)
On Thursday, March 24, 2026, Coinbase and Better Home & Finance announced a new structure for mortgage down payments. This innovative approach allows borrowers to use Bitcoin or USDC specifically for cash down payments on conforming mortgages tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans. The collaboration between these two companies enables the use of cryptocurrency as collateral for these mortgage down payments.
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(UPDATED March 26, 2026 17:24 UTC)
On Thursday, March 24, 2026, Fannie Mae announced that it will now allow mortgages backed by cryptocurrency holdings, a significant shift in the homebuying landscape. Borrowers will be able to pledge Bitcoin or USDC to fund the cash down payment on conforming mortgages tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans, reflecting the growing regulatory clarity in the United States regarding cryptocurrency. This new structure enables digital-asset holders to utilize their nontraditional wealth as part of the homebuying process.