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Own a home.
Keep your crypto.

Pledge crypto instead of a cash down payment.
Keep your position, maintain upside potential.
Coinbase One members will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in closing cost credits.1
See program terms and conditions.
House
Select an option...
Bitcoin
USDC
Cash

Get early access

Token-backed mortgages are coming soon. Join the waitlist to be first in line.

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Why token-backed mortgages?

We are increasing housing accessibility to Americans holding crypto

Keep the upside

Pledging crypto means you don't need to sell your crypto and your position keeps working for you. Consult your tax advisor about your specific situation.2

Keep your cash liquid

Pledge crypto in lieu of a cash down payment to keep your cash liquid. Get your crypto back after paying off your mortgage.

Coinbase trust

Better Mortgage maintains custody of your crypto in Coinbase Prime, Coinbase's institutional-grade brokerage.

See what you can afford

Pledge Bitcoin as collateral and get 40% of its value credited toward your down payment.

Traditional approach

If you sell Bitcoin or use cash for your down payment

Bitcoin sold for down payment:$30,000
Capital gains tax (20%):$6,000
Cash down payment needed:$50,000
Total cash required:$86,000

($80,000 down + $6,000 taxes)

You lose:

  • • $6,000 to taxes immediately
  • • Future appreciation on $30,000 of Bitcoin
  • • 100% of your $50,000 savings

Token-backed mortgage

Pledge Bitcoin, which has a 250% collateralization ratio

Bitcoin pledged as collateral:$100,000
Down payment credit (40%):$40,000
Cash down payment needed:$40,000
Total cash required:$40,000

($40,000 down payment from your cash savings)

You keep:

  • • All $100,000 of your Bitcoin
  • • Future appreciation potential
  • • $10,000 left in savings

Est. net benefit: Save $46,000+ upfront

Plus you maintain exposure to Bitcoin appreciation.

Mortgage Calculator is for estimation purposes only based on customer supplied data. Real payments will vary and may include (but are not limited to) the following fees: home insurance, HOA payments, taxes, regional fees, etc. All calculations assume eligibility for the selected loan. This is not a commitment to lend.

How does it work?

Pre-application
User visits Better Mortgage to check mortgage eligibility.
Application
User submits additional detail and financials. Better Mortgage assesses risk, calculates terms, and pricing.
Offer
User receives mortgage offer and accepts.
Credits
At closing, Coinbase One users receive 1% of each loan amount as closing cost credits, up to $10,000.1,3
Funding
User transfers Bitcoin/USDC pledge from their Coinbase account into Better Mortgage's Prime custody via API.
Payments
User pays off mortgage.
Payoff and asset release

Put your crypto to work toward your home purchase

1% of each loan amount as lender credits1

Applied at closing for Coinbase One members.

Frequently asked questions

Product basics

A token-backed mortgage lets you use your crypto without selling it to fund the down payment on a home purchase. Instead of putting cash down, you pledge Bitcoin or USDC and receive two loans: a conforming Fannie Mae mortgage on the home, and a separate loan that is secured by the crypto that you pledge and a second lien on the home to fund your cash down payment. Both loans are originated by Better Mortgage. Until the loans are repaid, Better Mortgage keeps custody of your crypto in its custodial account on the Coinbase platform. 15-year and 30-year fixed mortgage options are available.
Any Fannie Mae eligible property type, such as single family home, condo, townhouse are eligible for this program.
Interested borrowers can register for early access today. General availability details will be announced soon.

How it works

You get two loans at closing. The first is a conforming Fannie Mae mortgage on the home. The second is used to pay your cash down payment, and is secured by the crypto you pledge and a second lien on the home. Example: You want to buy a $500K home but you don't want to put any cash down. Pledging $250K in Bitcoin and a second lien on the home enables you to cover a $100K cash down payment for a conforming Fannie Mae mortgage. Your crypto stays in custody with Better Mortgage, in its custodial account on the Coinbase platform, for the life of the down payment loan and is returned to you once the down payment loan is repaid.
At launch, Bitcoin and USDC will be accepted as collateral for the down payment loan. Other assets such as ETH, and SOL may be added as eligible collateral types in the future.
Your pledged crypto is held in custody by Better Mortgage, in its custodial account on the Coinbase platform, as collateral for the duration of your down payment loan.
A Coinbase account with Bitcoin or USDC that can be transferred to Better Mortgage's custodial account on Coinbase. The entire process takes place within Better Mortgage's platform.
As an alternative, crypto converted to US dollars can be used as a qualifying asset without pledging it as collateral.4

Collateral & risk

Bitcoin price volatility has absolutely no impact on your mortgage or your separate down payment loan. There is no top-up requirement. Even if Bitcoin were to drop significantly, you will never be asked to add more collateral.
Delinquency begins the day after a missed payment. You have 30 days to bring your account current. If you remain delinquent for 60 days, Better Mortgage may liquidate your pledged crypto. Foreclosure proceedings on the home begin separately at day 180 of delinquency, in line with Fannie Mae guidelines.
With a margin loan, your Bitcoin can be liquidated automatically when the loan reaches a certain loan to value ratio, regardless of whether you're making payments.2 With a token-backed mortgage from Better Mortgage, market movements never trigger liquidation. Your pledge is one-and-done: no top-ups, no margin calls, no forced selling due to volatility.

Getting your crypto back

Your pledged crypto is returned in full after your mortgage is fully repaid or refinanced. The pledged crypto is held as collateral for your down payment loan until all principal and accrued interest on your conforming Fannie Mae loan have been repaid.
When you sell your home you must use the proceeds to pay off your down payment loan, at which point 100% of your pledged crypto would be released back into your Coinbase account.

Offer & Rewards

Coinbase One members will be eligible for up to $10,000 in closing cost lender credits paid for by Better Mortgage.1
Yes. While your USDC is held in Better Mortgage's custody as collateral for your down payment loan and you are a Coinbase One member, you will earn USDC rewards. Better Mortgage will calculate the rewards you are eligible to receive and transfer them to your Coinbase account. The USDC rewards rate is subject to change and can vary depending on your region and ongoing experimentation.

1Limited time offer. Additional restrictions/conditions apply. See full Offer Terms and Conditions

2See Terms and Conditions for complete details. Better Mortgage and its affiliates do not provide financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisors before engaging in any transaction.

3See FAQ "What is a token-backed mortgage"

4If you choose to liquidate crypto instead of pledging it, the funds may be subject to verification, documentation, and/or seasoning requirements under applicable Fannie Mae mortgage underwriting standards.