Bitcoin on the Mortgage Radar: How U.S. Housing Giants Are Poised to Accept Crypto as Collateral

The Unlikely Catalyst

I’ve seen market manias come and go—meme coins, NFTs, even flying pigs with blockchain tags. But this? This is different. On June 25, Bill Pulte, the grandson of a housing tycoon and now head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), quietly dropped a bombshell: he’s directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to study how Bitcoin could be used as collateral in mortgage lending.

Let that sink in. The same institutions that back 70% of U.S. mortgages are now treating digital assets like they might actually have a place in real estate finance.

And yes—when news broke, Bitcoin surged 2.2%, hitting $107K. Not bad for a policy proposal still in exploration phase.

Why This Matters Now

You don’t need me to tell you that crypto has long been treated like a digital casino chip by traditional banks. You can’t use your BTC or ETH to buy a house unless you sell it first—and then pay taxes on the gain.

But now? We’re seeing an actual mechanism emerge where your crypto holdings could serve as proof of wealth without liquidation.

It’s not full-scale legalization yet—but it’s close enough to make anyone holding crypto wonder: “Could my Bitcoin fund my next home?”

Even more telling? Pulte isn’t some anonymous bureaucrat playing politics. He’s openly invested—\(500K–\)1M in Bitcoin, Solana, Marathon Digital stock—and has backed GameStop gambits since 2019. His personal stakes aren’t just aligned—they’re driving policy.

What the Rules Might Look Like

If this goes ahead, expect three key changes:

• Valuation Discounts: Just like with stocks or real estate, lenders may apply a haircut—say 30% off BTC’s current value—to account for volatility.
• Holding Periods: Long-term ownership matters more than recent gains. A six-month-old position beats one bought yesterday.
• Stablecoins Get Special Treatment: USDC or USDT might be treated similarly to cash if their reserves pass audit scrutiny.

Private players like Milo Credit and Figure Technologies have already built these products—Milo alone has issued $65M in crypto-backed mortgages since 2022—but those loans don’t qualify for Fannie/Freddie sale programs.

So until federal approval comes through, those deals carry higher rates and riskier terms—not unlike early-stage venture capital with extra paperwork.

The Bigger Picture: From Speculation to Utility

This is bigger than just homes or wallets—it signals that crypto is no longer just an alternative investment strategy but becoming part of America’s financial plumbing.

We’re transitioning from ‘crypto as speculative tool’ to ‘crypto as economic infrastructure.’

In my models at Coindesk last year, I projected this shift would take five years—at minimum. We’re now three months into its acceleration phase thanks to leadership alignment and real-world traction from private firms pushing limits.

Of course—with great opportunity comes great volatility risk. A sudden drop could trigger margin calls even before closing day if over-leveraged positions exist.

But here’s my take: if you’re holding meaningful BTC or ETH not for short-term profit but long-term security—you’re already closer than most people think to qualifying for mainstream finance access without selling your assets.

Stay tuned—and keep your cold wallets ready.