A major US lender is finally cracking open the vault for crypto holders. Starting in February, Newrez—the non-bank giant—will let borrowers use their digital asset portfolios to qualify for a mortgage, becoming the first in the top 25 lenders to formally embrace crypto in the origination process.
The program covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, SEC-approved spot ETFs tracking either, and USD-pegged stablecoins. Instead of forcing a panic sell to prove liquidity, borrowers can leverage these assets for income and asset verification. This pivot arrives as the global crypto market cap has blasted past $3 trillion, with roughly 45% of Gen Z and Millennials holding crypto.
Baron Silverstein, President of Newrez, noted that rising crypto ownership and institutional involvement make this the perfect moment to bridge the gap. The goal is to let consumers "preserve investments while accessing innovative financing solutions." Leslie Gillin, Newrez Chief Commercial Officer, added that the move meets consumers where they are, creating new pathways to homeownership for the next generation of wealth holders.
There are, however, some guardrails. To qualify, crypto must be held with US-regulated exchanges, brokerages, or banks, and a volatility-adjusted valuation will apply. While you can HODL your way into the qualification process, all mortgage payments and closing funds are still required in USD.
