Key Takeaways:
The FHFA will allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider cryptocurrencies as reserve assets in mortgage risk assessments.
Borrowers can now include Bitcoin and other crypto holdings without converting them to USD.
The move aligns with President Trump’s broader push to make the U.S. a global crypto hub.
In a landmark move for crypto adoption in U.S. housing finance, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will now allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to include cryptocurrencies as part of their single-family mortgage risk assessments.
The directive was issued Wednesday by FHFA Director William J. Pulte, who said the policy shift reflects President Donald Trump’s vision of making the U.S. the global capital of digital assets.
“This decision follows significant studying and brings us in alignment with the president’s crypto-forward agenda,” Pulte said during a press briefing.
What the Decision Means for Homebuyers
For the first time, crypto assets—such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH)—will be considered reserve assets when evaluating mortgage applicants. This means borrowers won’t need to convert their crypto into U.S. dollars to qualify for home loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Both institutions play a foundational role in the U.S. housing market by buying mortgages from lenders, which provides liquidity and lowers borrowing costs for millions of Americans.
The FHFA’s decision marks a significant policy shift since it assumed oversight of both GSEs in 2008 following the subprime mortgage crisis.
Part of a Broader Crypto Integration Trend
The announcement comes amid a wave of moves signaling growing institutional adoption of digital assets in the U.S. financial system:
JPMorgan is reportedly allowing select clients to use Bitcoin ETFs as collateral for financing.
Crypto-backed mortgages are already available via niche platforms like Ledn, where borrowers use BTC or ETH to secure real estate loans without liquidating holdings.
“We’ve seen strong demand from Bitcoin holders using crypto as real estate collateral,” said Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, co-founder of Ledn.
Regulatory Momentum Under the Trump Administration
This is the latest in a series of crypto-friendly policies emerging under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Trump endorsed legislation supporting stablecoin frameworks and pledged to support broader crypto integration across federal agencies.
With the FHFA now opening the doors for digital asset inclusion in mortgage underwriting, crypto may soon play a far more central role in traditional finance, accoridng to Cointelegraph.
