US crypto mortgages weigh Bitcoin collateral against valuation risk and shifting rules

On Jan. 16, Pennsylvania-based lender Newrez said it will start counting certain cryptocurrency holdings toward mortgage applications beginning in February, adding to moves prompted by a 2025 directive from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. While some US lenders are now willing to consider Bitcoin and other regulated crypto assets as collateral, borrowers may face discounts on asset values and lingering regulatory and political uncertainty around how these loans are structured.