FHFA Directs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Prepare for Crypto in Mortgages

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instructed government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin preparations for accepting cryptocurrency as mortgage assets. FHFA Director William Pulte framed the move as aligning with former President Trump's vision to establish the U.S. as the global leader in cryptocurrency adoption.

The directive marks the first significant regulatory step toward integrating digital assets into the federal mortgage system. These government-sponsored enterprises, which purchase and securitize mortgages, were also ordered to study how crypto holdings might factor into borrower qualification assessments.

Reactions to the announcement have been mixed across the housing and crypto sectors. While some praise the innovative approach to modernizing mortgage finance, others have raised concerns about potential restrictions on self-custody of crypto assets used for qualification.