Buy a home without selling your Bitcoin in 2026. Bitcoin-collateralized mortgages (Milo, Unchained, Ledn) let you pledge BTC as collateral. Plus: crypto-friendly lenders who accept BTC income.
Selling Bitcoin to buy a house is one of the most painful decisions a Bitcoiner can make. You're locking in a taxable gain, potentially at the worst time, giving up future upside, and converting a non-inflationary asset into an inflating mortgage.
In 2026, there's a growing category of lenders who understand this problem. Some let you use Bitcoin as a down payment. Some count Bitcoin holdings as income. Some let you pledge BTC as collateral without selling it. A few do all three.
Here's the complete breakdown.
The simplest approach: sell Bitcoin, receive dollars, use dollars for down payment and closing costs. Several "crypto-friendly" lenders will document the source of funds without requiring you to explain years of Bitcoin transaction history.
Best lenders for this approach:
Tax note: Selling Bitcoin to fund a down payment triggers capital gains. If you've held for over a year, long-term rates apply (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). Factor this into your cost calculation.
Some non-QM (non-Qualified Mortgage) lenders will count your Bitcoin sale history as income for qualification purposes. This helps Bitcoin holders who live off BTC appreciation but don't have traditional W-2 income.
Requirements typically include:
Best lenders:
This is the most interesting category for long-term Bitcoiners: pledge your Bitcoin as collateral and receive a mortgage loan without selling. You keep Bitcoin upside, pay interest on the mortgage, and get the house.
How it works:
Best Bitcoin-collateralized mortgage lenders:
Milo — The original crypto mortgage lender, operates in 50 US states
Ledn Bitcoin Mortgage — Available for international borrowers, not just US
Unchained Mortgages — Deep Bitcoin-native company
DeBifi Bitcoin Mortgage — Non-custodial approach using DLC (Discreet Log Contracts)
Example: You own 2 BTC worth $200,000 and want to buy a $300,000 house.
| Approach | Bitcoin You Keep | Down Payment | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell BTC + conventional | 0 BTC | $60,000 (20%) | ~$1,600/mo (P&I, 7%) |
| Bitcoin collateral (Milo) | 2 BTC (pledged) | None | ~$1,600/mo + margin call risk |
| Bitcoin collateral (50% LTV) | 1 BTC (pledged), 1 BTC free | $0 | ~$1,600/mo on smaller loan |
The Bitcoin-collateral approach preserves your BTC position but adds liquidation risk: if Bitcoin falls sharply and you can't add more collateral or repay, the lender sells your Bitcoin.
This is the critical risk of Bitcoin-collateralized mortgages. If Bitcoin drops 60% and you can't add collateral:
Mitigation strategies:
Not every Bitcoin holder needs a collateralized product. Many just need a lender who won't penalize them for having most of their wealth in Bitcoin.
Axos Bank — Digital-first bank that's crypto-comfortable, will accept crypto assets in qualification
CrossCountry Mortgage — Large national lender with experienced crypto-income underwriters
Citizens Bank — Will consider crypto holdings as reserves
Luxury Mortgage — Jumbo loans with crypto-friendly underwriting for high-net-worth borrowers
New American Funding — Non-QM products available for self-employed Bitcoin holders
Regardless of which route you take, most mortgage lenders want to see:
Source of funds documentation:
Bitcoin valuation:
Reserves:
Selling Bitcoin for down payment: Capital gains event. Long-term gain: 0-20% federal. Short-term: ordinary income.
Bitcoin-collateralized mortgage: NOT a taxable event (you're pledging, not selling). But if the lender liquidates your collateral, that's a taxable sale.
Mortgage interest deduction: Still applies to Bitcoin-collateralized mortgages — you can deduct up to $750,000 in mortgage interest if you itemize.
Canada: Borrow Bitcoin Canada and Nesto serve Canadian borrowers with crypto-friendly mortgage products.
UK: PINT Financial offers Bitcoin-backed mortgage products for UK residents.
Switzerland: Bitcoin Suisse offers Bitcoin-collateralized lending including mortgages for Swiss residents.
Australia: Block Earner offers Bitcoin-backed home loans for Australian borrowers.
Can I use Bitcoin for an FHA loan? No. FHA requires down payments from approved sources — Bitcoin liquidation proceeds must be in your bank account for at least 2 months.
Will my Bitcoin go up in value while pledged? Yes — the appreciation accrues to you. You just can't spend it. When the mortgage is paid off, you get the Bitcoin back (however much it's worth).
What happens if I want to sell my house? You typically repay the mortgage and receive your pledged Bitcoin back at settlement.
Can I get a home equity loan against Bitcoin-backed home? Some lenders offer this; it's uncommon. The more common approach is a Bitcoin-backed HELOC (see Figure Bitcoin HELOC).
For Bitcoin holders who don't want to sell, Bitcoin-collateralized mortgages from Milo, Unchained, and Ledn are the best options. For those who will sell some Bitcoin and want a smooth documentation process, Better Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage are the most Bitcoin-aware conventional lenders.
The worst move: selling all your Bitcoin for a down payment without understanding the tax hit or without considering whether a collateralized product fits your situation. Do the math first.
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Figure offers a Bitcoin-friendly HELOC that counts crypto holdings as qualifying reserves — no need to sell your BTC. This 2026 review covers fixed rates, the 5-day funding process, origination fees, and how it compares to Milo and traditional banks.
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