Better and Coinbase launch token-backed, conforming mortgage

Better Mortgage and Coinbase have teamed up to offer US homebuyers a new mortgage product that lets them use Bitcoin as collateral without having to sell their digital assets. This innovative crypto-backed mortgage allows buyers to pledge Bitcoin worth at least 250% of the down payment as collateral, securing a Fannie Mae-backed home loan.

The pledged Bitcoin is held in a custodial account on Coinbase Prime and is returned once the mortgage is fully repaid or refinanced. Borrowers must be US residents with a verified Coinbase account and meet Better's credit, income, and other underwriting requirements. A 1% rebate from Better is available for Coinbase One members, capped at $10,000.

The product was first announced in March 2025, initially available through an early-access program. This move aligns with broader efforts to integrate digital assets into US mortgage underwriting, with the Federal Housing Finance Agency directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider cryptocurrency from US-regulated exchanges as an asset in mortgage risk assessments.