Best Crypto-Backed Mortgage Lenders for 2026

Crypto investors who want to buy a home usually have the same problem: you’re “wealthy” on paper, but your wealth lives inside a wallet. You don’t want to sell, trigger taxes, or shrink your position just to prove you can afford a down payment.

Now you don’t have to.

Crypto-backed mortgage options have expanded fast — and if you know what you’re looking at, you can turn crypto into real estate without blowing up your portfolio strategy.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best crypto mortgage lenders for 2026 — including true bitcoin mortgages, crypto home loans, and crypto mortgage lending structures — what each option actually offers, who it fits best, and how to choose the structure that lets you buy a home while keeping your upside.

What is a Crypto-Backed Mortgage?

A “crypto-backed mortgage” is really an umbrella term. It doesn’t describe one specific loan — it describes two very different ways crypto can be used in home financing, and the differences between them have big, real-world consequences for risk, cost, and long-term flexibility.

A “crypto-backed mortgage” usually means one of two things:

1) Crypto as collateral (pledged assets)

This is the headline-grabbing version.

You pledge Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins as collateral — effectively borrowing against bitcoin or crypto to fund a home purchase. The lender (or a custodian) holds those assets. You buy the home with little-to-no cash down.

If crypto drops enough (usually anything less than 150% of the loan value), you can get a margin call — meaning you must add collateral or pay down the loan. If you don’t, the lender can liquidate some of your crypto. For example, if you want a $1M loan, you need to put up at least $1.5M of bitcoin as collateral and if it falls below that threshold, you need to add more bitcoin to reach the reserve. Not exactly the best option given Bitcoin's recent volatility.

This route is best described as: maximum leverage, maximum responsibility.

2) Crypto as a qualifying asset (no collateral lockup)

This is the version we prefer for most real homebuyers.

Instead of holding your crypto, the lender uses your crypto as part of your overall financial profile — similar to how brokerage accounts or retirement assets are treated in an asset-based mortgage. At LendFriend, we apply a conservative haircut to your crypto holdings and convert them into qualifying income for underwriting purposes.

Once the loan closes, that’s it. There are no ongoing crypto requirements, no re-verifications, and no restrictions on what you do with your assets. You’re free to hold, trade, transfer, or sell your crypto however you want after funding.

You’ll typically still bring a down payment (often 20%–25%), but in exchange you avoid margin calls entirely because your crypto is never pledged as collateral. You get a standard 30-year, fully amortizing mortgage — not a short-term loan dressed up as one.

Pricing is also far closer to a traditional mortgage. Most crypto-as-qualification loans price roughly 0.5%–1.5% higher than a standard conventional loan depending on your qualifications, which is a small premium compared to the cost and risk of collateralized crypto lending.

This route is best described as: safer bitcoin lending, a typical home financing experience

Why Picking the Right Lender Matters

The biggest mistake people make is comparing these options as if they’re interchangeable. They’re not.

A crypto-collateralized loan can be the right move for a very specific borrower. But for a lot of people, it’s an expensive way to get a normal house.

Here’s what actually matters when you compare lenders:

Cost. Rates and fees vary more than people expect. Some options price like a standard mortgage. Others price like a short-term business loan.

Volatility risk. If your crypto is collateral, you need to understand the margin call and liquidation triggers. Don’t assume “it won’t happen.”

Term. A 30-year amortizing mortgage is not the same thing as a 12-month interest-only Bitcoin loan.

Security. If someone is holding your crypto, you should care a lot about custody, rehypothecation risk, and transparency.

Availability. Many “crypto mortgage” products are limited by state, occupancy type, loan size, or borrower profile.

The 6 Best Crypto Mortgage Lenders for 2026

This list includes true mortgage options and a couple of “useful but risky” loan products that people use to buy homes.

1) LendFriend Mortgage (best for most buyers)

LendFriend Mortgage focuses on using crypto as a qualifying asset — not as collateral — so borrowers can buy a home with a crypto-backed mortgage structure that avoids margin calls, forced liquidations, and ongoing crypto oversight.

Crypto as a qualifying asset means that an underwriter would treat your bitcoin no different than they would treat a different borrower's Apple stock.

That means:

• You keep your crypto.
• You avoid margin call risk.
• You still get a normal 30-year mortgage structure.

LendFriend Mortgage's crypto-backed mortgage rates are typically 6.5%–7.25% depending on origination fee as of December 2025 — and importantly: there's no requirement to use your crypto as collateral.

Pros

• No collateral lockup (your crypto stays in your wallet)
• No margin calls / forced liquidation risk
• Typical 30-year fixed mortgage term options available
• Strong fit for asset-rich, income-light borrowers
• Broker model = shops their portfolio lenders to get you a better deal instead of forcing one bank’s box

Cons

• You need a real down payment (usually 20%–25%)
• Underwriting still cares about credit and reserves (it’s a mortgage, not a magic trick — a credit score above 700 is preferred)
• Best execution typically requires stronger profiles (higher credit, clean liquidity story)

2) Milo (best for zero-down buyers who can manage risk)

Milo is the best-known name in crypto-collateralized mortgages. Their flagship product lets you finance up to 100% of a purchase price by pledging crypto as collateral.

This is attractive if your wealth is primarily in crypto and you don’t want to sell for a down payment.

But you need to understand what you’re signing up for: if crypto drops, the lender needs more collateral.

Pros

• 0% down options (100% financing)
• Designed for crypto-heavy borrowers
• Can work well for international buyers
• Long-term mortgage structure (not a 12-month balloon)

Cons

• Your crypto is held as collateral
• Margin call risk exists (you need a buffer)
• Pricing can be meaningfully higher than a traditional mortgage
• You are effectively tying your housing stability to crypto volatility

3) Figure (interesting structure, limited availability)

Figure helped popularize the idea of a “true crypto mortgage,” where you pledge crypto and finance up to 100%.

Figure is compelling on paper. The downside is availability and consistency — these programs have historically been state-limited and subject to rollout constraints.

Pros

• Potential for 0% down using crypto collateral
• 30-year fixed mortgage structure
• Collateral release features in certain structures if crypto appreciates

Cons

• Availability can be limited by state and program status
• Crypto is still collateral (margin calls still matter)
• Often priced above standard mortgages

4) Moon Mortgage (investor-leaning)

Moon Mortgage has positioned itself more toward investment properties in certain states.

If you’re a crypto-rich investor trying to move quickly, Moon may be relevant.

If you’re a normal buyer trying to purchase a primary residence and sleep at night, read the fine print carefully.

Pros

• Fast execution compared to traditional mortgage timelines
• Crypto-collateral model can reduce income friction
• Investor-friendly positioning

Cons

• Newer platform (shorter track record)
• Collateral + volatility risk
• Product details can vary depending on state and occupancy

5) Ledn (best as a tool, not a mortgage)

Ledn is not a mortgage lender. It’s a Bitcoin lending platform.

But people use Ledn loans to solve real estate problems all the time: down payments, bridge liquidity, or “I want to buy now and refinance later.”

Ledn loans are typically shorter-term and higher-rate. They can be incredibly useful. They can also be an expensive way to finance a house if you treat them like a long-term mortgage.

Pros

• Very fast funding
• No income verification / credit underwriting (collateral-driven)
• Useful for down payments or bridging
• Strong transparency culture relative to crypto lending

Cons

• Not a true 30-year mortgage
• Higher interest costs
• You need an exit plan (refi, liquidation, income stabilization)
• Margin call mechanics still apply

6) Unchained Capital (not recommended for most homebuyers)

Unchained is also not a mortgage lender. It’s a Bitcoin-backed loan provider.

And to be blunt: people have used it to buy homes, but due to the short loan terms, we do not recommend it as a default option.

Unchained loans can carry very high interest rates (often 13%–15% all-in) and short terms (typically 12 months). That’s not “mortgage money.” That’s “bridge loan money.”

The reason Unchained shows up in the conversation is custody philosophy. Their multi-signature approach is respected in the Bitcoin community.

But respect doesn’t make the math work for long-term financing.

Pros

• Strong custody structure (multi-sig model)
• Collateral transparency
• Useful as a short-term bridge for a specific scenario

Cons

• High cost (rate + fees)
• Short term (balloon / refi pressure)
• Margin call risk
• Not a mortgage replacement

How to choose the right crypto-backed option

Here’s the cleanest way to think about it.

If you have the cash for a down payment and want a long-term home loan that doesn’t put your crypto at risk, you want the crypto-as-qualification model.

If you have plenty of crypto but little cash, and you’re comfortable managing collateral volatility, you may consider a crypto-collateralized mortgage — but you should go in with eyes open.

If you’re trying to move quickly, bridge a purchase, or unlock short-term liquidity, a Bitcoin-backed loan can be a tool — but it should come with a refinance or payoff plan.

Practical tips before you do anything

Manage volatility before you close on your crypto loan

If you're dead set on pledging your crypto as collateral, don’t pledge everything. Keep a cushion. Assume a big drawdown happens at the worst possible time so you don't end up losing everything.

Compare total cost, not just the headline rate

Origination fees, points, rate spreads, and term structure matter more than people realize.

A “higher rate but safer structure” can beat a “lower rate but liquidation risk” depending on your plan. Our research has found that the safer structure like LendFriend Mortgage's asset depletion mortgage for crypto actually has a better rate than the crypto collateral mortgages like Milo.

Understand custody and rehypothecation

Ask direct questions:

• Who holds the crypto?
• Is it insured?
• Is it rehypothecated?
• What happens during a market drawdown?

If the answers are vague, walk.

Know your exit strategy

If you’re using a 12-month loan to buy a house, you should have a plan on day 1 for how you’ll replace it.

Final thoughts

Crypto-backed mortgages are finally becoming a real category. But most borrowers don’t need the flashiest option — they need the safest one that still lets them keep their upside.

If you want to buy a house with bitcoin or crypto without turning your holdings into a taxable event, you have real crypto mortgage and bitcoin lending choices in 2026. The right choice depends on whether you value maximum leverage or maximum sleep-at-night.

If you’re not sure which bucket you’re in, that’s normal. This is still a new space. The key is to compare options in the right framework — and not get seduced by “0% down” without understanding what you’re giving up.

Want to see what you qualify for without pledging your crypto?

LendFriend’s crypto-backed mortgage model uses your crypto for qualification — no collateral, no margin calls. Schedule a call with me today or get in touch with me by completing this quick form to discuss your options.