Mortgage lender Rate has launched a new mainstream home loan product for borrowers with lots of crypto holdings.
Known as “RateFi,” it allows so-called crypto-forward borrowers to qualify for a home loan without jumping through the usual hoops.
The key benefit is it gives prospective home buyers (or refinancers) the ability to use their cryptocurrency holdings without the need for liquidation.
According to Rate, some 10 percent of Americans hold these digital assets, “with many maintaining substantial six- and seven-figure portfolios.”
But traditional mortgage underwriting guidelines often ignore the assets unless they are converted into U.S. dollars. This program aims to change that.
How RateFi Benefits Crypto Holders Looking for a Mortgage
- Borrowers can qualify for a mortgage without the need to sell crypto holdings
- Assets can be used for both income AND reserve requirements
- Works within their existing underwriting framework to offer speed and certainty
- New program is fully rolled out nationwide across Rate’s 850+ branch network
The new program from Chicago-based Rate, which is a near-top 5 mortgage lender nationally, makes it easier to use crypto if you need a mortgage.
Many crypto enthusiasts have a mantra to never sell, or “HODL” as it’s known. They don’t want to miss out on any upside, similar to an individual holding traditional stocks.
The problem is most mortgage underwriting guidelines require liquidity in order to use the assets because they are seen as more volatile and untested relative to stocks and bonds.
And they’re not wrong by the way. In just the past six months, we’ve seen crypto bellwether Bitcoin fall a staggering 43%.
Surely that doesn’t exude stability or long-term store of value, but I digress.
People want to be able to hold it and still use it to qualify for mortgages.
RateFi addresses this issue by allowing borrowers to use verified, non-liquidated cryptocurrency for both qualifying income and asset reserves.
That first bit is a biggie because similar offerings I’ve come across lately only allow the latter.
And reserves are often not even required on mortgages, so it’s the income piece that might mean a lot more in practice.
This new program allowing qualified borrowers to use their crypto without selling it, within established mortgage frameworks.
Specifically, it operates within existing non-QM loan structures, meeting compliance standards while also expanding access to “crypto-wealthy and self-employed borrowers with non-traditional profiles” who have often faced friction on their mortgage journey.
Rate president Shant Banosian said, “It gives them another way to say yes to qualified borrowers without adding complexity.”
Aside from these borrowers not having to liquidate assets, they won’t trigger unwanted tax consequences, or be required to pursue complex loan structures that limit control over their holdings.
Rate says this is the first stage of what will be a “broader digital asset lending strategy” that the company plans to expand as time goes on.
Importantly, it’s designed to scale across Rate’s national footprint of 850+ physical branches, rather than act as a limited pilot or niche product.
More Mortgage Lenders Move to Allow Crypto for Qualification
Lately, we’ve seen multiple lenders make efforts to make it easier for borrowers to use their crypto.
A few years ago, Figure’s Crypto Mortgage became the first program to allow 100% financing while letting borrowers HODL.
And last year we saw Newrez roll out crypto for mortgage approvals without the need for liquidation.
The move came after an order from FHFA director Bill Pulte for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “consider cryptocurrency” in their risk assessments.
At the moment, you need to sell any virtual currency first and convert it to U.S. dollars if you want it to be used for a conforming loan backed by the pair.
Conversely, you can use stock, bond, or mutual fund holdings without receipt of liquidation.
The argument is those types of assets are more tried and true, especially as we’ve seen Bitcoin take a dive recently.
- Mortgage Rates Finally Fall Below 6%! - February 23, 2026
- Rate Launches RateFi to Make It Easier to Qualify for a Mortgage with Crypto Holdings - February 23, 2026
- Mortgage Rates Did Nothing All Week Despite Lots of Big News - February 21, 2026