By Aspiring homeowners may soon find that their cryptocurrency holdings carry more weight in the mortgage market.
Earlier this year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) signalled that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should begin preparing to treat crypto as an asset in mortgage lending risk assessments.
William Pulte, who heads the agency, said at the time that both government-sponsored mortgage finance companies had been instructed to consider how digital currencies could factor into single-family home loan applications.
While formal proposals are still in the works, the direction suggests a notable change in how wealth is evaluated in housing finance.
Crypto as a recognised asset
Currently, crypto holdings are rarely counted by traditional mortgage lenders, who tend to rely on more established assets such as cash deposits, equities, or retirement accounts.
Pulte, in posts on X, described the inclusion of crypto as a move that would “forever change” the real estate, housing, and mortgage lending industries, aligning with the Trump administration’s broader push to expand digital asset adoption.
“After significant studying, and in keeping with President Trump’s vision to make the United States the crypto capital of the world, today I ordered the Great Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage,” Pulte wrote at the time.
Importantly, the framework under consideration would allow crypto to be counted without requiring owners to liquidate it into dollars. Instead, digital wallets could sit alongside checking accounts and investment portfolios when lenders evaluate applications.
Policy shift and industry impact
The potential change reflects a broader pro-crypto agenda in Washington. The administration has moved to create a strategic stockpile for digital assets and passed the GENIUS Act, establishing a framework for stablecoins. Together, these measures point toward deeper integration of crypto into the US financial system.
If adopted, the FHFA’s plan could expand access to homeownership for crypto investors who prefer to hold their assets rather than convert them into cash. At the same time, it raises questions for lenders about how to balance innovation with risk, given the volatility often associated with digital currencies.
Financing beyond mortgages
The conversation around crypto’s role in mortgage lending comes as homeowners are exploring other modern financing options. Products like a HELOC—short for home equity line of credit—have gained traction as flexible ways to unlock property value for purposes such as home improvement or debt consolidation.
Bridging traditional and digital finance
Just as a home equity line of credit has become a familiar tool in household financial planning, crypto’s potential recognition in mortgage applications could broaden the range of assets that matter in housing finance.
While industry participants await concrete proposals from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the possibility suggests digital currencies are edging closer to mainstream acceptance—this time through the housing market.
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