U.S. lender Rate launches mortgage program accepting cryptocurrency assets as collateral

Jinse Finance reported that the US mortgage institution Rate has launched a nationwide program allowing eligible borrowers to use verified cryptocurrency assets to meet underwriting requirements without liquidating their assets. This marks the official integration of digital assets into the traditional housing finance sector. The product, called RateFi, operates under the institution’s existing non-qualified mortgage framework, allowing borrowers to count verified crypto assets as eligible reserves and, in some cases, as a source of income. Kate Amor, Rate’s Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Products, stated that during underwriting, RateFi evaluates digital assets through a proprietary valuation framework that comprehensively considers market price, liquidity, and the volatility of specific assets. This program allows certain crypto assets to be used for borrower qualification without liquidation, while still adhering to traditional mortgage risk standards. However, any digital assets used for down payments or transaction settlement fees must still be converted to cash.