Better and Coinbase Launch Bitcoin-Backed Mortgages for US…

Better Mortgage and Coinbase have made their Bitcoin-backed mortgage product generally available, opening the offering to eligible U.S. homebuyers. The product lets borrowers use Bitcoin toward a down payment without selling their holdings, after an initial launch in March through an early-access program.

The structure pairs a conventional Fannie Mae-backed mortgage with a separate loan that funds the down payment. That second loan is secured by Bitcoin, so borrowers keep exposure to the asset. Borrowers must pledge Bitcoin worth at least 250% of the down payment loan. The collateral moves to Better's custodial account on Coinbase Prime and stays there until the mortgage is repaid or refinanced, subject to loan terms. Coinbase said the mortgage and the Bitcoin-backed down payment loan carry the same interest rate and amortization period and are combined into a single monthly payment.

Risk and eligibility

A drop in Bitcoin's price alone does not alter mortgage terms or require additional collateral under the structure, and it does not trigger automatic liquidation simply because collateral value falls below its original level. Payment delinquency is different: Better can liquidate the pledged Bitcoin if a borrower is 60 days delinquent, Coinbase said. Borrowers must be U.S. residents with verified Coinbase accounts and must meet Better's standard underwriting requirements for creditworthiness, income and other criteria. Coinbase One members can get a 1% rebate from Better, capped at $10,000, which may be used for eligible closing costs and fees.

Wider mortgage trend

The rollout comes as U.S. housing regulators and lenders show more willingness to consider digital assets in mortgage underwriting. In June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency told Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop proposals for recognizing cryptocurrency held on U.S.-regulated centralized exchanges as an asset in single-family mortgage risk assessments without first converting it to U.S. dollars. The directive also called for controls addressing crypto volatility and for proposed changes to go through the government-sponsored enterprises' boards before FHFA review. Newrez said in January that it would begin recognizing certain cryptocurrency holdings when assessing mortgage applications from February, including purchase and refinance applications.

For Bitcoin holders, the main draw is tax and investment flexibility. Selling BTC for a home purchase can create a taxable event and reduce future exposure to price gains, while using it as collateral keeps economic exposure to the asset, along with downside risk. With the median sales price of a new U.S. home around $400,000 in 2026, down payments can be a large capital burden for buyers whose wealth is concentrated in crypto. For Coinbase, the partnership extends Bitcoin beyond trading and custody into conventional household finance. Adoption will depend on interest rates, collateral requirements and whether borrowers are comfortable linking long-term home debt to a volatile asset.