Coinbase and Nasdaq-listed Better Mortgage announced general availability of Bitcoin-backed mortgages for US borrowers on August 26, 2026. The product allows Americans to pledge Bitcoin as collateral for down payments without liquidating holdings, expanding access to homeownership for crypto holders.
The first Bitcoin-backed mortgage closed in June 2026, funded by Coinbase and Better Mortgage to a married Michigan couple. The service was designed in accordance with Fannie Mae standards.
Coinbase One members are eligible for a 1% rebate on mortgage value, capped at $10,000. Borrowers can use Bitcoin as collateral without facing margin calls, according to the companies.
Ziggy Jonsson, Chief Technology Officer at Better Mortgage, cited demographic pressure on traditional homebuyers. “In 2025, high interest rates, record home prices, and limited inventory pushed the median age of a first-time homebuyer to 40,” Jonsson said. “Coinbase counts millions of monthly users worldwide, and by allowing Coinbase One members to pledge crypto as collateral without selling their holdings, we’re opening a new path toward homeownership for a generation of borrowers whose wealth increasingly lives onchain.”
Ben Shen, head of financial services and loyalty products at Coinbase, framed the offering as functional integration of digital assets into traditional finance. “By enabling borrowers to pledge their digital assets in the mortgage underwriting process, we are allowing crypto to be more useful and powerful in the real-world — expanding the pathways to homeownership while preserving long-term investment positions,” Shen said.
Market context
Bitcoin-backed mortgages remain a nascent segment. Milo, a crypto-backed lender, surpassed $100 million in digital asset mortgages earlier in 2026, including a record $12 million loan. Ledn, another Bitcoin-backed lender, projects the market could expand from its current $3 billion size to $1 trillion within 10 years, according to the company’s research.
Coinbase and Better Mortgage did not specify interest rates, loan-to-value ratios, repayment periods, or whether the service is available to non-Coinbase One members. The companies also did not clarify how Bitcoin collateral is valued or marked-to-market during the loan term.
