Breaking: Mortgage Giant Newrez Now Considers Crypto Holdings in Loan Approvals
Forget just checking your FICO score. A major U.S. mortgage lender is now peeking at your crypto wallet.
Newrez, one of the nation's largest non-bank mortgage originators, has started factoring cryptocurrency assets into its loan decision-making process. This isn't about accepting Bitcoin for your down payment—yet. It's about recognizing digital asset portfolios as part of your overall financial picture when you apply for a home loan.
The New Collateral on the Block
The move signals a seismic shift in traditional finance's relationship with digital assets. For years, crypto was viewed by mainstream lenders as a speculative red flag—volatile, unregulated, and best ignored. Newrez is flipping that script, treating substantial crypto holdings as potential evidence of financial strength.
It's a risky play. The value of crypto assets can swing wildly between the pre-approval and the closing date. Newrez is betting its risk models can handle the volatility, seeing an opportunity to tap into a growing demographic of tech-savvy, asset-rich but potentially cash-poor borrowers. After all, why should your Ethereum stash sit idle when it could help you qualify for a lower rate?
Bypassing the Old Guard
This decision effectively bypasses the cautious, wait-and-see stance of most major banks. While Wall Street dabbles in Bitcoin ETFs, Newrez is integrating crypto directly into the bedrock of American wealth-building: the mortgage. It's a pragmatic, if not slightly rebellious, acknowledgment that for millions, digital assets are simply part of their net worth—whether traditional finance likes it or not.
The implementation details are key. How does the lender verify holdings? Which assets qualify? How are they valued amidst market swings? Newrez hasn't laid all its cards on the table, but the precedent is set. Other lenders will now face pressure to follow suit or risk losing clients to more forward-thinking competitors.
One cynical finance veteran might call it a desperate grab for market share in a tough housing market. Another sees it as the inevitable, messy integration of a new asset class. Either way, your Bitcoin could now be as important as your 401(k) when you go house hunting. Just don't expect your broker to understand what an NFT is.
Newrez to Count Bitcoin, Ether and Stablecoins as Mortgage Assets
Under the new approach, Newrez will allow eligible crypto holdings to be considered alongside traditional assets such as stocks and bonds, removing a long-standing requirement for borrowers to liquidate their digital assets before applying.
At launch, the lender said it will recognize Bitcoin, Ether, spot exchange-traded funds backed by those assets, and U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins.
The assets must be held with US-regulated crypto exchanges or fintech platforms, brokerages, or nationally chartered banks.
Newrez said crypto valuations used in underwriting may be adjusted to reflect market volatility, while borrowers will still need to cover closing costs and make mortgage payments in US dollars.
The lender emphasized that the policy is designed to integrate crypto within existing risk controls rather than overhaul its underwriting standards.
Chief commercial officer Leslie Gillin said the decision reflects changing investor behavior, particularly among younger buyers.
JUST IN:
Major US lender Newrez to recognise crypto for mortgage qualification.
Bitcoin is the new collateral
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About 45% of Gen Z and Millennial investors hold cryptocurrency, Gillin said, adding that recognizing digital assets could help broaden access to homeownership for groups that have struggled to enter the housing market.
Newrez’s MOVE comes as US policymakers continue to debate how cryptocurrencies should factor into mortgage risk assessments.
In June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to study how crypto assets could be considered in single-family mortgage underwriting without first being converted into dollars.
Shortly afterward, Cynthia Lummis introduced the 21st Century Mortgage Act, which WOULD codify that directive into law.
Lummis argued that housing affordability challenges are increasingly affecting younger Americans, many of whom hold a significant share of their savings in digital assets.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, where it has yet to advance.
Interactive Brokers Enables 24/7 Account Funding With Stablecoins
Interactive Brokers has expanded its crypto services by allowing clients to fund brokerage accounts with stablecoins that are automatically converted into US dollars.
The new feature enables 24/7 deposits using USDC across multiple blockchain networks through a partnership with zerohash, removing delays tied to traditional wire transfers.
Once received, stablecoins are converted into dollars and credited directly to client accounts, letting investors begin trading within minutes.
Interactive Brokers said support for Ripple USD and PayPal USD will launch next week, building on USDC funding that was first introduced for retail clients in December.
The brokerage said the move addresses a key friction point for global investors, as wire transfers can be slow and costly.
