Block Earner has launched Australia's first home loan backed by Bitcoin, allowing cryptocurrency investors to use their Bitcoin holdings as security for deposit finance, enabling access to the property market while retaining exposure to Bitcoin's market performance.
Bitcoin as home loan security
The product allows eligible borrowers to deposit Bitcoin into institutional-grade custody, with Block Earner issuing a cash loan against the Bitcoin to fund up to 50% of the property's value, typically covering the deposit. The remainder of the financing is provided by a traditional mortgage lender, and the facility offers borrowers the flexibility to repay principal in cash, crypto, or via refinancing, with the option to exit the loan at any time without penalty.
According to Block Earner, Bitcoin accounts for over half of Australians' estimated personal cryptocurrency holdings of $20–22 billion in 2024, based on research cited in the launch material. The total Australian crypto market is forecast at $91.43 billion in 2025, with approximately 3.9 million Australians holding some form of crypto asset.
Affordability recalculated
Conventional housing affordability metrics based on wage growth and Australian dollar figures indicate ongoing challenges in Australia's housing market. However, Block Earner highlights a different perspective when homes are priced in assets such as Bitcoin and gold, which are seen as resistant to inflation.
In 2016, the average Australian home cost 627 BTC or about 350 ounces of gold. By 2024, the average home's price has fallen to 4.3 BTC or about 170 ounces of gold. This suggests that for individuals who have maintained long-term exposure to these assets, purchasing power has increased relative to property prices.
Block Earner's release states, "This tells us something critical: while property values have soared in fiat terms, they've become more affordable when measured against stores of value with fixed, or slowly expanding supply and increasing institutional demand."
Shifting financial eligibility
The offering is also described as reflective of a broader trend in the finance sector towards recognising digital assets as part of wealth and credit assessment. Traditionally, eligibility for borrowing has focused on income, cash savings, and superannuation, rather than alternative wealth such as crypto holdings. Block Earner claims this new product broadens the definition of assessable wealth, while still maintaining what it calls "borrower protection or lending discipline."
"This is a turning point for both property finance and digital assets," said Charlie Karaboga, CEO and Co-Founder of Block Earner. "Crypto holders shouldn't have to choose between holding Bitcoin and buying a home. We're giving them a smarter option, a way to put their crypto to work without giving it up. This product isn't just innovative, it's inevitable."
The company claims it can more precisely account for Bitcoin's value in loan assessments due to the cryptocurrency's divisible nature. Borrowers will have the option of partially or fully offsetting repayments using their Bitcoin security.
Security protocols
Block Earner states that customers' Bitcoin is not lent out to third parties and is held in custody via Fireblocks. Repayments on the interest-only portion of the deposit loan may be made for up to four years, after which the principal is repayable in cash, crypto, or via refinancing. The company says that for many applicants, this approach allows entry to the property market without the need to sell Bitcoin assets or pay lenders' mortgage insurance (LMI).
Early demand and future plans
Block Earner reports that strong early interest from potential borrowers has led to mortgage demand totalling over USD $110 million since the product's soft launch. The company is currently conducting a national roadshow with events planned across major Australian cities and states that formal lending partnerships for broader rollout are in late-stage discussions, aligned for later in 2025.
The company references ongoing developments globally, noting that the United States Federal Housing Finance Agency is also considering changes that would allow cryptocurrency to be used in federal mortgage applications.
Market context
Key data supplied with the launch positions the average Australian house price at $1.25 million in 2025, with median income at $98,000. The evolution of Bitcoin's valuation relative to property has been highlighted as evidence of the growing significance of digital assets.