Better, Coinbase Roll Out Bitcoin-Backed Mortgages Nationwide
Better Mortgage and Coinbase have launched a Bitcoin-backed mortgage product to the general public, letting US homebuyers pledge Bitcoin as collateral for a down payment instead of selling it, the companies announced Wednesday, according to Cointelegraph.
Per Coinbase’s Help Center, the product pairs a Fannie Mae-backed home loan with a separate down payment loan secured by Bitcoin. Borrowers must pledge BTC worth at least 250% of the down payment loan, with the collateral held in Better’s custodial account on Coinbase Prime. Both loans share the same interest rate and amortization term and are repaid through a single monthly payment. Pledged Bitcoin is returned once the mortgage is repaid or refinanced.
Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin price declines alone will not trigger margin calls, but Better can liquidate the pledged BTC if a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent. Eligible borrowers must be US residents with a verified Coinbase account and must meet Better’s standard credit and income underwriting requirements. Coinbase One members can also receive a 1% rebate from Better, capped at $10,000, toward closing costs.
Better and Coinbase first unveiled the token-backed mortgage in March through an early-access program before Wednesday’s general rollout.
The launch follows broader regulatory movement toward incorporating digital assets into US mortgage underwriting. In June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop proposals allowing cryptocurrency held on regulated US exchanges to count as an asset in mortgage risk assessments without requiring conversion to dollars, Cointelegraph noted. Mortgage lender Newrez said in January it would begin recognizing certain crypto holdings in loan evaluations starting in February.
Cointelegraph noted the expansion comes as US housing prices remain historically elevated, with the median new home price around $400,000 in 2026 according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data.
Based on reporting by cointelegraph.com.
