Key Takeaways
- The FHFA is studying whether Bitcoin holdings can help borrowers qualify for mortgages.
- Mortgage applications are down due to high interest rates and limited housing supply.
- If approved, Bitcoin could become an accepted form of collateral in federal mortgage programs.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is evaluating whether Bitcoin holdings might count toward qualifying for a US home mortgage.
Bill Pulte, head of the FHFA, announced on June 23 that the agency will:
… study the usage of cryptocurrency holdings as it relates to qualifying for mortgages.
Housing market under pressure
Homeownership rates in the US have remained around 62% for decades, but new mortgage applications have sharply declined in recent years.
Mortgage originations hit near record lows in mid-2024 and have barely improved in early 2025.
Contributing factors include limited housing construction, an increase in investor purchases, and high borrowing costs due to elevated Federal Reserve interest rates.
Pulte has criticized these Fed policies and called for the resignation of Chair Jerome Powell.
Industry reactions and regulatory shifts
While some boutique lenders already accept Bitcoin as collateral, official FHFA acknowledgment could expand access to federal mortgage programs.
In 2024, the Federal Housing Administration alone issued over 760,000 mortgages worth $230 billion.
Until January 2025, most banks were restricted from offering bitcoin-backed loans due to SEC rules, but these were repealed after President Trump took office.
Personal finance expert Andrew Lokenauth advised when using Bitcoin proceeds for home purchases:
Be careful to document everything and save the paperwork.
Bitcoin advocates highlight the asset’s liquidity and transparency as benefits for lenders.
Mitchell Askew of Blockware called Bitcoin’s public blockchain “perfect collateral” for home loans.
CJ Konstantinos, founder of People’s Reserve, stated:
This is a no brainer.
Bitcoin ownership trends
Roughly 20% of Americans, or 65 million people, now own Bitcoin or other digital assets, according to a 2025 industry report.
Most US bitcoin portfolios are valued under $50,000. Allowing Bitcoin as collateral could open homeownership to a wider range of borrowers.
