Better funded the first Bitcoin-backed mortgage in the United States that complies with Fannie Mae requirements. Coinbase served as the project’s technology partner. A nationwide rollout of the new lending product is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Better Home & Finance Holding Company and Coinbase announced the issuance of the first Bitcoin-backed mortgage loan in the United States. The new product will allow eligible borrowers to use digital assets as collateral when obtaining a mortgage without having to sell their cryptocurrency holdings. The initiative is supported by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA).
The companies first announced the development of the solution in March 2026. At launch, the program supports Bitcoin and the USDC stablecoin. The list of eligible digital assets is expected to expand as the market evolves.
Key features of the new mortgage program include:
- the use of digital assets as loan collateral;
- no requirement for borrowers to sell cryptocurrency to fund a down payment;
- no need to realize gains and incur capital gains taxes through the sale of assets;
- the ability to retain exposure to potential appreciation in the value of a cryptocurrency portfolio.
The first mortgage issued under the new program was obtained by a married couple from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joe, a software engineer, and his wife Amy, a graduate student, had accumulated a significant portion of their savings in digital assets. Instead of selling their Bitcoin to raise funds for a down payment, they used their cryptocurrency holdings as collateral and were able to purchase their first home.
According to Better, about 41% of customers who receive pre-approval based on their income and credit history do not have enough cash available to make a traditional down payment. At the same time, the average age of first-time homebuyers in the United States has reached a record 40. A decade ago, that figure stood at 32.
Vishal Garg, Founder and CEO of Better, said the traditional 30-year mortgage was designed for a generation that kept its savings in bank accounts, whereas many homebuyers today build wealth through digital assets. According to Garg, the new product is intended to expand access to homeownership for borrowers who meet income and credit requirements but cannot demonstrate sufficient cash reserves.
Coinbase was selected as the project’s technology partner because the exchange serves millions of retail users, more than 150 government institutions, and over 300 institutional clients worldwide. Mark Trojanowski, Head of Consumer and Platform Partnerships at Coinbase, said the launch of the first digital asset-backed mortgage creates a direct pathway to homeownership for tens of millions of Americans who have accumulated substantial wealth in cryptocurrencies.
