An Australian company, Block Earner, has launched a unique mortgage program that allows individuals to obtain loans secured by Bitcoin. This decision became possible after a court ruling confirmed that the company’s crypto loans do not fall under financial regulation.
This is reported by Business • Media
Terms of the New Mortgage Program
From now on, Australians can use their crypto assets as collateral without selling them to purchase real estate. Borrowers’ funds are held on the Fireblocks platform, and Bitcoin serves as collateral for obtaining a loan in fiat currency, which can be up to 50% of the property’s value. In addition to the cryptocurrency collateral, the scheme also includes a traditional mortgage.
“Creditworthiness is assessed not only based on income and savings but also on a portfolio of digital assets.”
Previously, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) required Block Earner to obtain a license; however, the court exempted the company from this requirement, paving the way for the development of new financial instruments in the real estate market.
International Experience and the Impact of Cryptocurrency on the Housing Market
Similar trends are observed in the United States. In June 2025, representatives of the Federal Housing Finance Agency initiated a review of the possibility of considering digital assets on regulated exchanges when assessing risks for mortgage loans. Additionally, a bill is being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow cryptocurrencies to be included in borrowers’ financial profiles.
Both Australia and the United States are currently experiencing a severe housing crisis. The cost of real estate in Australia exceeds the average income of the population by nearly 10 times, while in Sydney, this figure reaches 14 times. In the U.S., the median home price is $420,000, and the number of homeless individuals has reached its highest level since 2007. Against this backdrop, the price of housing expressed in Bitcoin has actually decreased due to the sharp rise in the value of the cryptocurrency—by nearly 84% over the past year.
It is worth noting that Bitcoin recently surpassed Amazon to become the fifth most valuable asset in the world.