The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a landmark directive on Wednesday, instructing government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin preparing for the inclusion of cryptocurrency in mortgage asset assessments.
This move is being hailed as a critical step forward in U.S. housing finance policy in the digital era and a potential gateway for crypto assets to enter mainstream financial evaluation frameworks.
FHFA Director William Pulte announced on social media platform X: “The order has been issued.” He emphasized that the decision was the result of careful study and aligned with former President Trump’s policy vision of turning the United States into the “global capital of cryptocurrency.”
Crypto Assets Enter the Mortgage Evaluation System
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a central role in the U.S. housing finance ecosystem, backing over half of all residential mortgages nationwide. Under Pulte’s directive, the two entities will explore how cryptocurrencies can be counted among a borrower’s assets, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of their creditworthiness and repayment capacity.
“Recognizing crypto holdings as legitimate assets in mortgage applications can help creditworthy borrowers gain better access to home loans and promote sustainable homeownership,” the FHFA stated.
However, the policy has not yet clarified which cryptocurrencies will be accepted. FHFA’s current requirements specify that eligible crypto assets must be held on U.S.-regulated centralized exchanges and be verifiable—prompting concern among industry members over limitations on self-custody freedom.
Market Reaction: “Bitcoin Becomes a Mortgage-Backed Asset”
The announcement drew strong attention from the crypto community. Michael Saylor, Bitcoin advocate and MicroStrategy co-founder, declared on X:Bitcoin has been recognized as a reserve asset by the U.S. housing system — a defining moment for institutional BTC adoption and collateral recognition.
The crypto market responded quickly. “Housecoin,” a Solana-based housing-themed meme coin, surged 20% to $0.24 following the news. “1 house = 1 Housecoin,” the project joked on social media.
While many hail the move as an “innovative breakthrough,” it has also sparked regulatory and market concerns over financial stability. Crypto assets are known for their high volatility—Bitcoin, for example, suffered its steepest weekly drop in two years in February, plunging 16%. Integrating such assets into mortgage assessments may introduce new credit risks.
Moreover, the FHFA has yet to provide a timeline for implementation or disclose how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will operationalize the directive.
Since Trump’s return to the White House, his administration has notably accelerated the integration of crypto into federal frameworks. From Pulte’s appointment to a regulatory “friendliness” campaign and increased engagement with industry leaders, the current government has shown clear intent to position the U.S. as a global hub for digital finance.
As crypto assets gain broader institutional acceptance, the FHFA’s move may just be the beginning. Market watchers are now eyeing whether other federal agencies will follow suit in relaxing restrictions on digital asset usage.