Fannie Mae Backs Crypto-Linked Mortgages, Enabling Bitcoin-Backed Down Payments
On 24 May 2026 at 11:21, Fannie Mae accepted its first crypto-backed mortgage product, enabled via Better Home & Finance and Coinbase after an FHFA directive to incorporate digital assets into risk reviews. The structure pairs a standard Fannie Mae mortgage with a separate Bitcoin-collateralized loan that funds the down payment, keeping BTC in Coinbase Prime custody and avoiding a taxable sale. In the example provided, buying a $500,000 home uses $250,000 in Bitcoin to secure a $100,000 (20%) down payment loan under a 2.5:1 collateral ratio.