Key facts
- Better Mortgage and Coinbase have launched a Bitcoin-backed mortgage product for US homebuyers.
- The product allows borrowers to use Bitcoin as collateral for a down payment without selling it.
- Pledged Bitcoin is held in a custodial account on Coinbase Prime.
- The mortgage and down payment loans share the same interest rate and term.
- Borrowers must meet standard credit and income requirements, and have a verified Coinbase account.
- Coinbase One members receive a rebate on closing costs.
Better Mortgage and Coinbase have launched their Bitcoin-backed mortgage product to the general public, allowing eligible US homebuyers to use Bitcoin as collateral for a down payment without needing to sell their cryptocurrency. This product, initially announced in March and available through an early-access program, pairs a Fannie Mae-backed home loan with a separate down payment loan secured by Bitcoin. The pledged Bitcoin is held in a custodial account on Coinbase Prime and is returned once the mortgage is fully repaid or refinanced, subject to loan terms. While Bitcoin price declines do not trigger margin calls, the pledged collateral can be liquidated if a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent on payments. Borrowers must be US residents with a verified Coinbase account and meet Better's underwriting standards. Coinbase One members are eligible for a rebate on closing costs. This initiative aligns with broader trends in the US mortgage market, including a June 2025 directive from the FHFA for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider cryptocurrency as an asset in mortgage risk assessments, and similar moves by other lenders like Newrez.