Newrez plans to deal with eligible cryptocurrency holdings as qualifying property in its mortgage underwriting course of, a transfer that would broaden entry to house loans for crypto holders.
The change is anticipated to take impact in February throughout the lender’s non-agency merchandise, masking house purchases, refinancings and funding properties. Whereas debtors can already use property resembling shares and bonds in underwriting, crypto holders have sometimes been required to promote their positions.
At launch, Newrez stated it is going to acknowledge Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by these property, and US dollar-backed stablecoins. The crypto property have to be held with US-regulated crypto exchanges or fintech platforms, brokerages or nationally chartered banks, the corporate stated.
Beneath the coverage, cryptocurrency holdings thought of in underwriting could have valuations adjusted to replicate market volatility, whereas debtors would nonetheless be required to cowl closing prices and make mortgage funds in US {dollars}.
Newrez chief business officer Leslie Gillin stated about 45% of Gen Z and Millennial buyers personal cryptocurrency, including that the coverage is geared toward broadening entry to homeownership amongst youthful consumers.
US regulators weigh crypto’s position in mortgage underwriting
The transfer by Newrez follows coverage discussions within the US over whether or not digital property ought to be thought of in mortgage threat assessments.
In June 2025, the US Federal Housing Finance Company (FHFA) instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop proposals inspecting methods to think about cryptocurrencies as property in single-family mortgage threat assessments with out conversion to US {dollars}.
Lower than two months later, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis launched the twenty first Century Mortgage Act, which might codify the FHFA directive.
Lummis stated the invoice addresses housing affordability challenges for youthful Individuals, including that “the American dream of homeownership just isn’t a actuality for a lot of younger folks” and that the laws displays the rising quantity who maintain digital property.
The invoice was learn twice within the Senate and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing and City Affairs, the place it has not superior additional.
Though restricted in scope, a market already exists for crypto-backed house financing, permitting debtors to make use of BTC or ETH as collateral.
Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, co-founder of Ledn, informed Cointelegraph in June that some Bitcoin holders have used their property to finance actual property purchases with out liquidating them.
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