Bitcoin
February 24, 2026
Crypto is no longer sitting on the sidelines of home financing. With the launch of RateFi, Chicago-based lender Rate is allowing borrowers to use crypto for mortgage qualification. This is without selling their Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), or stablecoins. The move comes as lawmakers like Senator Cynthia Lummis push to recognize digital assets as legitimate reserves, opening the door for broader crypto mortgage approval in the U.S. housing market.
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How Crypto Mortgage Approval Works Under RateFi’s New Lending Rules
RateFi, which rolled out this month, allows borrowers to include verified cryptocurrency holdings as part of their mortgage application. That means crypto can now count toward reserves. Borrowers still need to convert crypto into cash for down payments or closing costs, but their core holdings can remain intact. Rate said the program operates within non-QM lending frameworks and follows standard anti-money laundering and identity verification rules.
RateFi is changing the market by rolling out digital asset underwriting into the mortgage process. Kate Amor, executive vice president and head of enterprise products at Rate, said,
“We built this product to apply common sense underwriting to a modern financial reality, allowing qualified borrowers to use their crypto without selling it, without gimmicks, and without stepping outside established lending standards. RateFi represents the first phase of a broader digital asset lending strategy the company plans to expand over time.”
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This growing interest in crypto aligns with the ascent of the overall mrket. Despite the current downtrend, institions are viewing crypto as a profitable market. Lenders are competing to attract younger borrowers who have started builidng wealth through crypto.
This reflects a shift that is already underway. More than 10% of Americans now own crypto, according to Rate’s announcement. The firm even confirmed that many hold significant portfolios. Market data from Pew Research Center shows crypto ownership is especially common among younger investors, many of whom will be entering the housing market. Leslie Gillin, Newrez’s chief commercial officer, said
“The global crypto market has surged past $3 trillion, and an estimated 45% of Gen Z and Millennial investors — many of whom are future homebuyers — own crypto.”
Other lenders like Newrez and Newfi Lending are following suit. They have reportedky introduced crypto home loans that allow borrowers to use crypto holdings to meet reserve requirements. This highlights the growing impact and acceptance of cryptocurrency assets across mortgage markets.
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