Key Takeaways:
- Michael Saylor called the FHFA crypto directive “a defining moment” for Bitcoin’s role in institutional finance and collateral recognition.
- The FHFA instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept verified crypto holdings as part of mortgage reserve calculations.
- The directive aligns with President Trump’s push to make the U.S. a crypto leader, signaling a broader policy shift in federal finance.
- Major firms like Microsoft, AMC, and Overstock already accept Bitcoin, while MicroStrategy and Tesla continue to hold it on their balance sheets.
Bitcoin advocate and MicroStrategy co-founder, Michael Saylor, took to X on Wednesday to welcome a U.S. government decision recognizing cryptocurrency as a reserve asset in the housing sector, calling it “a defining moment for institutional BTC adoption and collateral recognition.”
Saylor’s comments came in response to a new directive from the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which instructs mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider verified cryptocurrency holdings as eligible reserves in mortgage risk assessments.
The order, signed by FHFA Director William Pulte (Bill Pulte), marks the first time a U.S. housing regulator has moved to incorporate digital assets into the framework of federally backed home loans.
“Today I ordered the Great Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage,” Pulte wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added the directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader goal of positioning the United States as a global leader in cryptocurrency policy.
Under the FHFA directive, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to submit proposals outlining how they will integrate crypto assets, stored on U.S.-regulated exchanges, into single-family loan risk assessments.
According to the regulatory order, crypto assets must be verifiable and held in compliance with existing regulatory standards. The directive also requires institutions to account for price volatility and incorporate appropriate risk controls into their assessment models.
The order takes effect immediately, with implementation timelines to be determined following review by each enterprise’s board of directors.
The decision could broaden mortgage access for crypto holders, and marks a milestone in the institutional acceptance of digital assets within U.S. financial markets.
From Tech Titans to National Treasuries: Who’s Actually Using Bitcoin?
As the U.S. housing system takes its first steps toward integrating cryptocurrency into mortgage finance, it’s worth noting that Bitcoin’s institutional acceptance is already well underway.
From technology giants and large retailers to luxury car dealers and national governments, a growing list of players is adopting Bitcoin for practical use, not just in theory.
In the tech world, adoption has been driven by names like Microsoft, which allows users to fund their accounts with Bitcoin via BitPay, and AT&T, the first major U.S. telecom provider to accept crypto payments.
Meanwhile, Shopify-enabled merchants can accept stablecoin payments, expanding crypto transactions across thousands of independent storefronts worldwide.
Retail is no exception. Overstock.com was an early adopter, accepting Bitcoin since 2014. Similarly, Home Depot, the U.S.’s largest home improvement chain, supports crypto transactions through Flexa.
Entertainment and e-commerce have also followed suit. AMC Theatres now takes Bitcoin for ticket and concession sales. Meanwhile, the Sony PlayStation Store accepts Bitcoin for digital purchases, appealing to younger users who are already comfortable with crypto.
Governments are also moving into the crypto space. El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, prompting interest from other countries. Ukraine has received cryptocurrency donations to support its war effort, while Bhutan is accumulating Bitcoin reserves through state-backed hydro-powered mining operations.
Together, these developments suggest that Bitcoin has moved beyond its speculative origins and is increasingly embedded in mainstream commerce, finance, and public policy.
Read More: Metaplanet Raises Half a Billion Dollars for Bitcoin Purchases, Eyes U.S. Growth
