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Coinbase Powers First Crypto-Backed Conforming Mortgages

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Coinbase and Better Home & Finance have operationalized the first conforming crypto-backed mortgage in U.S. history, allowing borrowers to pledge Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for a Fannie Mae-backed home loan without liquidating their positions.

The product plugs directly into the $12 trillion U.S. residential mortgage market, not as a niche private offering, but as a GSE-conforming instrument backed by the same federal infrastructure that underwrites more than half of American home purchases.

The surface headline is historic. The mechanism underneath it is where the real trade-off lives. BTC is discounted to 40% of market value for collateral purposes; USDC is discounted to 80%. A borrower pledging $100,000 in Bitcoin receives $40,000 in usable down payment credit, a haircut that makes the math work for the GSEs but demands significant overcollateralization from the borrower.

The question this article answers: what does it actually take to use crypto to buy a house under this framework, and what does the product’s existence signal about where institutional mortgage infrastructure is heading?

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Key Takeaways:
  • Policy Trigger: FHFA Director Bill Pulte directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on June 25, 2025, to develop crypto-as-asset underwriting guidelines, providing the regulatory foundation for this product.
  • Haircut Mechanism: BTC is valued at 40% of market price; USDC at 80%. A $100,000 BTC position yields $40,000 in qualifying collateral.
  • First Mover: Coinbase and Better Home & Finance are executing the first conforming loan under this structure; lender Newrez has since launched its own parallel crypto-backed program.
  • Scope Limitation: Only assets held on U.S.-regulated exchanges with AML compliance and a 60-day holding history qualify — cold wallets, DeFi positions, and staked assets are excluded.

Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

How the Loan Structure Actually Works

The product is structured as two instruments layered together: a primary conforming Fannie Mae-backed mortgage and a second mortgage covering the down payment, secured by pledged crypto collateral. Coinbase holds the pledged assets in custody; borrowers do not transfer ownership, but the collateral is encumbered for the loan’s duration.

The haircut is the defining constraint. To generate $80,000 in qualifying down payment credit using Bitcoin at the 40% valuation rate, a borrower must pledge $200,000 in BTC.

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USDC’s 80% rate is more capital-efficient; $100,000 in USDC yields $80,000 in usable collateral, but still demands a meaningful overcollateralization buffer.

Fannie Mae’s volatility haircut framework is designed precisely to absorb the asset class’s price swings without triggering forced liquidations on the borrower side.

There are no margin calls. Collateral is not at risk from short-term price drops. The crypto position becomes actionable for the lender only after 60 or more days of delinquency, aligning with standard foreclosure timelines and deliberately decoupling the mortgage’s credit risk from crypto’s daily volatility.

Eligible assets must be held on a U.S.-regulated exchange with full AML compliance and a minimum 60-day documented holding history. Cold wallets are excluded. DeFi positions do not qualify. Staked assets are out. The framework is narrow by design; it trades flexibility for GSE compatibility, which is the only pathway to conforming status.

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The policy architecture behind this traces directly to FHFA Director Pulte’s June 25, 2025, directive ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop formal underwriting guidelines for digital assets. Phase 1 framework proposals covering volatility treatment and documentation standards are currently under FHFA review, with a 6-to-12-month timeline before the rollout of Phase 2 criteria.

Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

The post Coinbase Powers First Crypto-Backed Conforming Mortgages appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Crypto World

Morgan Stanley sets 0.14% Bitcoin ETF fee, could be market’s lowest

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Crypto Breaking News

Morgan Stanley is accelerating its crypto ambitions with a plan to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF priced at 0.14% in annual fees. If approved, the vehicle would be the cheapest spot BTC offering in the U.S. market and could push rival fund sponsors to trim fees to stay competitive. The filing appears in the bank’s latest S-1 registration materials and signals a serious intent to broaden access to Bitcoin exposure for Morgan Stanley’s client base.

Industry observers say the move, paired with the bank’s broader crypto strategy, could reshape the U.S. ETF landscape. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart flagged the filing as a “big move” and forecast an early-April launch for the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT). Fellow Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas noted the ultra-low fee would be attractive to Morgan Stanley’s advisory network, which manages trillions of dollars in client assets, potentially easing internal conflicts over recommendations. The price tag—0.14%—would sit just a hair below the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF and meaningfully under BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, underscoring the fee-pressure dynamic across the space.

Beyond the fee structure, the development underscores Morgan Stanley’s evolving stance on crypto as part of a broader suite of products and services. The bank’s early 2020s shift toward crypto included appointing Amy Oldenburg to lead its digital asset team and pursuing a national banking charter to custody digital assets and execute purchases, sales, and swaps for clients, including staking services. Morgan Stanley previously identified Coinbase and Bank of New York Mellon as the prospective custodians for its Bitcoin ETF, a detail that helps frame how the bank intends to operationalize a spot-BTC product for a traditionally risk-averse client base.

Key takeaways

  • The proposed 0.14% fee for Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF would be the lowest in the U.S. market at launch, positioning the bank as a potential price leader and prompting peers to consider fee reductions to retain assets.
  • If the SEC approves MSBT, Morgan Stanley would become the first traditional bank to issue a U.S. spot BTC ETF, expanding access to crypto exposure for high-net-worth clients and broader Morgan Stanley advisory channels.
  • The move sits within a broader crypto push: Morgan Stanley has filed for a staking Ether ETF and has sought a national trust charter to custody digital assets and trade crypto for clients, signaling a multi-pronged strategy beyond a single ETF product.
  • Analysts foresee an early-April launch window for the MSBT, suggesting the bank is moving with pace to bring a regulated, traditional-finance gateway to Bitcoin into its product lineup.

Strategic significance for Morgan Stanley and the market

The 0.14% fee is not just a stat; it signals a strategic pivot with potential ripple effects. For Morgan Stanley, a successful, low-cost spot BTC ETF would enable seamless integration into its existing advisory framework. As Balchunas noted, the soft price point reduces potential conflicts for roughly 16,000 financial advisors who oversee about $6.2 trillion in client assets, potentially making it easier to recommend cryptocurrency exposure within conventional portfolios. For the broader market, the introduction of a bank-backed spot BTC ETF could heighten competition among ETF providers to offer low-cost, accessible crypto exposure, potentially accelerating adoption among institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

The path remains contingent on regulatory approval. A green light from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would mark a milestone not just for Morgan Stanley but for the broader integration of traditional finance with regulated crypto products. The bank’s broader crypto orchestration—ranging from a Solana ETF filed in January to staking-related offerings and a declared charter to custody and trade digital assets—paints a picture of a lane-change moment for Wall Street institutions that have historically approached crypto with caution.

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What comes next and what to watch

Investors and crypto observers should monitor several moving parts. First, the SEC’s decision on MSBT will determine whether a bank-backed spot BTC ETF can enter the market with a capital-light, cross-sell approach through Morgan Stanley’s vast advisory network. The timing remains uncertain beyond signals from analysts about an early-April launch, but any formal approval would intensify a fee-competition dynamic already visible across existing U.S. spot BTC ETFs.

Second, Morgan Stanley’s broader crypto agenda—its staking ETH ETF, custody capabilities, and the possibility of additional crypto products—will shape how the bank positions itself as a regulated gateway to digital assets. The custodial framework with potential partners like Coinbase and BNY Mellon will influence both product design and client trust as the firm seeks to democratize access without compromising risk controls.

Third, the market will closely watch how competitors respond. If Morgan Stanley’s 0.14% fee sets a new baseline, rival asset managers may need to recalibrate fee structures, custody arrangements, and distribution strategies to maintain market share among sophisticated investors seeking regulated exposure to Bitcoin.

Lastly, the regulatory trajectory for spot crypto ETFs remains a central theme. While a bank-run product could gain traction, final approvals will hinge on how regulators assess custody standards, liquidity, and investor protection in a landscape evolving toward deeper institutional participation in digital assets.

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In sum, Morgan Stanley’s proposed MSBT at a sub-0.15% fee underscores a broader move by legacy financial institutions to normalize and scale regulated crypto exposure. If approved, the impact would extend beyond a single ETF—potentially reshaping fee benchmarks, distribution dynamics, and the pace at which traditional finance fully embraces digital assets in its core client offerings.

Readers should keep an eye on regulatory updates, Morgan Stanley’s official disclosures regarding the MSBT timeline, and any shifts in the competitive landscape as major banks and fund sponsors recalibrate their crypto product menus in response to this development.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Morgan Stanley Sets Bitcoin ETF Fee at Ultra-Low 0.14%

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Morgan Stanley Sets Bitcoin ETF Fee at Ultra-Low 0.14%

Investment bank Morgan Stanley is seeking to launch its spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund at a 0.14% fee, which would make it the cheapest in the US market and potentially force rivals to cut fees to stay competitive.

The 0.14% fee, proposed in Morgan Stanley’s latest S-1 registration statement on Friday, would be one basis point below the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC), currently the cheapest in the US market, and 11 basis points below the BlackRock-issued iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT).

“Big move here. They are not messing around,” Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said, predicting that the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) is “likely to launch in early April.”

Source: James Seyffart

Fellow Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said the low fee means that none of Morgan Stanley’s roughly 16,000 financial advisors — which manage $6.2 trillion in client assets — would feel conflicted in recommending the product to its clients.

Given that spot Bitcoin ETFs track the price movements of Bitcoin (BTC), Morgan Stanley’s ultra-low fee could spark a fresh fee war in the $83 billion market, putting immediate pressure on rivals to cut costs or risk losing assets.

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Regulatory approval would make Morgan Stanley the first bank to issue a spot Bitcoin ETF, expanding access to Bitcoin exposure for millions of its high-net-worth clients.

“They are the ultimate gatekeepers of rich boomer money,” Balchunas added.

Morgan Stanley previously selected Coinbase and Bank of New York Mellon as the proposed custodians for its Bitcoin ETF.

Morgan Stanley seeking suite of crypto ETFs, banking charter

Morgan Stanley, previously one of the more crypto-hesitant Wall Street firms, filed for the spot Bitcoin ETF in the first week of January, along with a Solana (SOL) ETF.

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Related: Bitcoin traders see 53% odds of sub-$66K BTC by April 24 

It then filed papers for a staked Ether (ETH) ETF later that week, and by the end of the month, the bank appointed one of Morgan Stanley’s longest-standing executives, Amy Oldenburg, to lead its digital asset team.

Source: James Seyffart

Morgan Stanley also applied for a national trust banking charter on Feb. 18, seeking to custody certain digital assets and execute purchases, sales and swaps for clients in addition to staking services.

In October, before the investment bank adopted its institutional crypto strategy, it recommended a 2% to 4% allocation to crypto portfolios for investors. It also allowed its financial advisors to recommend crypto funds to clients with individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s.

Magazine: Bitcoin may face hard fork over any attempt to freeze Satoshi’s coins

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