Fannie Mae-Backed Bitcoin Home Mortgages Are Finally Here, Coinbase Says
Coinbase and Better completed the first government-guaranteed mortgage secured by Bitcoin for a Michigan couple, using Bitcoin as collateral for the down payment on a Fannie Mae-backed loan. Coinbase said the product should expand nationwide in the coming months and may also support USDC initially. The setup lets buyers tap crypto wealth for homeownership without selling assets or triggering capital gains taxes. The move follows a policy shift at the Federal Housing Finance Agency under Bill Pulte, which directed mortgage regulators to consider certain digital assets held on centralized exchanges. Historically, crypto was excluded because of volatility. Better says the structure uses two loans: a standard mortgage and a crypto-backed second lien, with possible liquidation after 60 days of delinquency. The development has drawn criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who warned of consumer and financial stability risks.
