Major U.S. mortgage lender Newrez officially recognizes cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, effective from February

Source: TokenPost Original Title: U.S. Major Mortgage Lender ‘Newrez’ Recognizes Cryptocurrency Assets like Bitcoin… Implemented in February Original Link: U.S. major mortgage lender Newrez will recognize holdings of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as eligible assets during the mortgage underwriting process starting in February. This move opens a pathway for cryptocurrency investors to prove their home purchasing power without selling their assets, significantly increasing accessibility for younger generations to homeownership.

According to industry announcements, Newrez will apply this policy across all its non-agency loan products starting in February. The policy covers home purchases, refinancing, and investment property loans.

No Forced Sale… Recognition of BTC, ETH, and Stablecoins

Previously, stock or bond holdings were recognized as assets during loan assessments, but cryptocurrency holders had to sell their coins to convert them into cash for loan approval.

Under Newrez’s new policy, loan applicants can recognize ▲Bitcoin(BTC) ▲Ethereum(ETH) ▲asset-backed physical ETFs ▲US dollar-pegged stablecoins as assets. However, these assets must be stored on cryptocurrency exchanges, fintech platforms, brokers, or federally regulated banks(Nationally Chartered Bank) compliant with U.S. regulations.

The company stated that, considering market volatility, they will adjust the valuation of cryptocurrency assets accordingly, and that down payments(Closing costs) or monthly mortgage payments must still be made in U.S. dollars.

Newrez’s Chief Commercial Officer emphasized, “Approximately 45% of Millennial and Generation Z investors(MZ generation) own cryptocurrencies,” and added, “This policy aims to lower the barriers for young buyers to enter homeownership.”

U.S. Regulators Move Toward Accepting ‘Coins’ in the Mortgage Market

Newrez’s move aligns with changes in the regulatory environment in the U.S.

In June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency(FHFA) instructed government-sponsored mortgage agencies to develop ways to consider cryptocurrencies as assets during single-family mortgage risk assessments without converting them into dollars.

Two months later, in August, Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming introduced the ‘21st Century Mortgage Act(21st Century Mortgage Act)’ to formalize this guidance. Senator Lummis stated, “The dream of homeownership is becoming distant for many young people,” and argued that the legislation should reflect the increasing number of digital asset holders.

Market Response and Outlook

While some niche markets already offered housing finance products backed by Bitcoin or Ethereum, the adoption of such policies by major mainstream lenders like Newrez is highly symbolic.

As cryptocurrencies penetrate deeply into the core of mainstream finance—specifically in ‘mortgage lending’—other lenders are likely to adopt similar policies. However, the key will be how strictly valuation risk management(Valuation Haircut) standards are applied, given the high volatility of these assets.