Key Takeaways
- Newrez will start accepting eligible crypto holdings as part of mortgage qualification.
- The move makes Newrez the first major lender among the country’s top 25 to formally recognize crypto in mortgage origination.
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Major US non-bank lender Newrez will allow borrowers to include certain crypto holdings when applying for a mortgage starting in February. Eligible assets are Bitcoin, Ethereum, SEC-approved spot ETFs backed by BTC or ETH, and USD-backed stablecoins.
Homebuyers will be able to use these assets for income and asset verification without the need to sell them, unlike the traditional approach.
Explaining the decision to recognize crypto as part of borrowers’ assets, Baron Silverstein, President of Newrez, said rising crypto ownership and institutional involvement make this the right moment for the lender to bring crypto into mortgage lending.
This way, consumers can “preserve investments while accessing innovative financing solutions,” Silverstein noted.
Financial institutions are increasingly adapting to the growing role of digital assets in personal and institutional portfolios. Newrez is positioning its mortgage products around the financial behavior of the next generation of wealth holders.
“At Newrez, we’re committed to meeting consumers where they are. Today, the global crypto market has surged past $3 trillion, and an estimated 45% of Gen Z and Millennial investors—many of whom are future homebuyers—own crypto,” said Leslie Gillin, Newrez Chief Commercial Officer. “Our mission at Newrez is to do everything possible to make home happen, and this innovation marks yet another step in creating new pathways to homeownership, giving consumers flexibility and control.”
According to Newrez, to qualify, crypto holdings must be held with US-regulated exchanges, brokerages, or banks, and a volatility-adjusted valuation will apply. The company noted, however, that all mortgage payments and closing funds are required in USD.