Can you get a mortgage with crypto?

You can get a mortgage with crypto in the US, but in most cases the crypto has to become dollars first. Fannie Mae, one of the two big government-sponsored mortgage companies, accepts crypto that has been sold and deposited at a regulated bank as a source of down payment, closing costs or reserves. A 2025 order from the housing regulator could widen that, but the change had not appeared in Fannie Mae's guide as of October 2026.

Can you use crypto for a down payment?

Yes, once it is converted. Fannie Mae's Selling Guide section on virtual currency, dated May 4, 2022, says crypto exchanged into US dollars can be used for the down payment, closing costs and reserves. The borrower must show evidence of the sale, and the dollars must be held in a US or state-regulated financial institution and verified before closing. Crypto may not be used for earnest money, the deposit made when signing the purchase contract.

Selling crypto to raise cash is a taxable event in the US. Our guide on how to sell crypto for cash covers the steps.

What is the FHFA crypto mortgage order?

On June 25, 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, issued an order signed by director William Pulte. According to The Block and the law firm Sheppard Mullin, it told both companies to prepare proposals for counting crypto as an asset for reserves in single-family loan risk assessments. Only crypto that can be evidenced and stored on a US-regulated centralized crypto exchange would qualify, and it would not need to be sold first. The companies were also told to consider adjustments for price swings and limits on how much of the reserves could be crypto.

The order asked for proposals, not an immediate rule change. RealOpen, a crypto real estate firm, reported that as of mid-September 2026 neither company's guide had been updated to count unconverted crypto. The Fannie Mae section reviewed for this guide still requires conversion.

Can buying crypto affect your mortgage application?

It can affect how your finances are checked. Fannie Mae says lenders must get enough documentation to show that funds came from the borrower's own crypto account, including large deposits that came from selling crypto. Borrowers who move money between exchanges and bank accounts may be asked for statements showing that trail. Because crypto prices can swing sharply, as explained in why crypto is so volatile, the value shown on an application can also change quickly.

Can you pay your mortgage with crypto?

Mortgage payments are owed in dollars. Some payment companies offer a workaround. BitPay says its Bill Pay feature lets users pay a mortgage to most lenders using crypto from a compatible wallet. The IRS treats paying for goods or services with crypto as an exchange that can produce a capital gain or loss, as covered in how crypto is taxed in the US.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the tax authority or a qualified professional for your own situation.