This buyer just financed a million-dollar home with ETH, here’s how

When my client purchased a $1.58M California home using Ethereum as collateral, it highlighted the growing role of digital assets in home financing. This case stood out because it was one of Milo’s first million-dollar mortgages fully collateralized with Ethereum. It showed how crypto is moving beyond theory and into practical homeownership solutions.

My client was purchasing a $1,585,000 single-family home. He had researched his options and chose Milo for our 100 percent loan-to-value (LTV) crypto mortgage. At 100 percent LTV, the entire purchase price is financed through the loan, so the client does not need to provide a cash down payment at closing.

The challenge came at the start of the process. To secure the contract, he needed a 10 percent earnest money deposit, which in this case was about $150,000. An earnest money deposit is common in real estate transactions. It shows the buyer is serious and gives the seller confidence in moving forward. Without it, the deal could have collapsed.

Although my client had other assets, he could not tie up that much cash for the deposit without jeopardizing his broader financial strategy. Traditional lenders would not have recognized his Ethereum holdings as part of his qualifying profile, which meant he would not have been approved for financing at this level.

Instead of selling ETH, he chose to take a short-term crypto loan. By pledging Ethereum as collateral, he accessed the liquidity needed for the deposit while keeping his position intact. This is where Milo’s model stands apart. Crypto loans can be obtained from different lenders, but what sets Milo apart is the ability to transition from short-term liquidity to long-term real estate financing seamlessly.

When it came time to close, we rolled the initial crypto loan into a 100 percent LTV crypto mortgage fully backed by Ethereum. The client never had to sell his ETH, and he walked away with the keys to a $1.58M California home.

For me, this case illustrates why Milo’s approach is so important. We are enabling clients to recognize and enjoy their wealth in the present without losing the long-term upside they believe in. By using Ethereum as collateral, this client gained access to the housing market today while preserving his investment for tomorrow. That balance between present opportunity and future conviction is exactly what makes crypto-backed mortgages transformative.

The opinions expressed in the Blog are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product.