Better launches Bitcoin-backed mortgages with Coinbase

This move signals a tangible step toward integrating crypto assets into mainstream financial products, specifically within the highly regulated mortgage space. By allowing Bitcoin as collateral, it addresses a real pain point for holders who are asset-rich but cash-poor, potentially unlocking homeownership without triggering a taxable sale. The significance lies in the precedent it sets for other lenders and platforms to consider crypto as legitimate collateral, which could broaden access. The key question is how risk is priced and managed, given Bitcoin's volatility, and whether this model will attract enough demand to scale beyond a niche offering.