Newrez to Recognize Bitcoin and Ethereum for Mortgage Qualification in February 2026

Beincrypto reports Newrez plans to begin recognizing certain cryptocurrency assets for mortgage qualification in February 2026 through its non-QM Smart Series loans. The policy will allow borrowers to use holdings in Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD-pegged stablecoins, and spot crypto exchange-traded funds for underwriting and to estimate income without liquidating them, with market-adjusted valuations applied to account for volatility.

The program is exclusive to Newrez’s Smart Series non-qualified mortgage products; borrowers must still pay down payments and closing costs in U.S. dollars, and eligible assets must be held by U.S.-regulated entities such as compliant exchanges, retail fintech apps, or SEC- or FINRA-regulated brokerages—effectively excluding self-custody wallets and DeFi protocols.

Newrez cited internal data showing about 45% of Gen Z and Millennial investors own cryptocurrency and described the group as a core demographic of first-time homebuyers, noting lenders historically required liquidation of digital holdings and triggered taxable events.

Key Topics

Crypto, Newrez, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Stablecoins, Spot Crypto Etfs