US bill seeks crypto recognition in mortgages

TLDR

A US proposal would require federal housing agencies to treat verified crypto holdings as assets in mortgage applications, but it is still at an early committee stage.

1. The American Homeowner Crypto Modernization Act would direct agencies like HUD and FHFA to update underwriting rules to include verified digital assets.
2. Borrowers could use crypto wealth to strengthen mortgage applications, subject to strict proof and lender risk controls, rather than being ignored as today.
3. The bill faces the full US legislative process and broader debates on crypto regulation, so timing and final details remain uncertain.

Deep Dive

1. What The Bill Would Change

Rep. Nancy Maces American Homeowner Crypto Modernization Act would require key US housing agencies, including HUD, USDA, VA and the FHFA, to recognize verified cryptocurrency holdings when assessing mortgage applications, rather than excluding them outright.

According to reporting on the bill, these agencies would have to update mortgage underwriting programs, guidelines and standards so that digital asset holdings can be counted alongside traditional assets like savings, stocks or bonds. Borrowers would need to provide robust proof of ownership, transaction records and exchange documentation, since simply listing wallet balances would not qualify as evidence.

This is framed as a modernization effort so that Americans who have built wealth through crypto are not disadvantaged when trying to qualify for a home loan.

2. Impact On Borrowers And Crypto

Today, most federal mortgage programs treat crypto as invisible, even if an applicant has significant holdings, which can make debt to asset ratios look weaker than they really are. The bill aims to close that gap by letting documented crypto holdings strengthen borrowers profiles.

In practice, lenders and regulators would still need to address volatility, liquidity and fraud risk, so they could differentiate between more stable assets and highly speculative tokens or apply conservative discounts to crypto values. Recognizing crypto in underwriting would not guarantee approval, but it would formally move digital assets into the same asset bucket as other investment holdings.

3. Status And What To Watch

The bill has been reintroduced and referred to the House Financial Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where it remains at the committee stage pending hearings, markups and votes. It must still pass the House, then the Senate, and be signed by the president before becoming law.

It also sits within a wider US effort to define federal rules for digital assets, alongside stablecoin legislation such as the GENIUS Act and broader market structure work like the CLARITY Act. That broader context makes passage possible but not guaranteed, given ongoing political and industry debates over cryptos role in finance.

Conclusion

If the American Homeowner Crypto Modernization Act advances, it could be a notable step toward treating crypto as mainstream financial collateral in the US housing system. The opportunity is greater recognition of digital asset wealth, but the path runs through a contentious legislative process and detailed implementation rules that will determine how usable crypto really becomes in everyday mortgage decisions.