Milo, a U.S. lender specializing in crypto-backed home loans, has surpassed $100 million in originations and closed its largest deal yet — a $12 million mortgage backed by crypto, the company announced Wednesday. What Milo does - Milo lets homeowners pledge bitcoin or ether as collateral to borrow—without selling their crypto, making cash down payments, or triggering taxable events. Loan sizes can reach up to $25 million. - Loans start at 8.25% and can be used for home purchases, land, renovations, or business investments. - Borrowers can custody collateral with qualified providers such as Coinbase or BitGo, or choose a self-custody option. Why it matters Founder Josip Rupena says Milo’s typical client is 30–55 years old, employed, with traditional retirement savings but a large portion of net worth in crypto—often several million dollars—making it hard to qualify for conventional mortgages based on income alone. “A customer might make $100k a year and their crypto net worth might be anywhere from three to seven million,” Rupena said. Milo targets that gap, enabling buyers to build real-estate equity without selling long-term crypto holdings. Risk management and performance Milo holds mortgage provider licenses in ten U.S. states, with plans to expand, and reports zero margin calls across its mortgage portfolio despite ups and downs in bitcoin and ether. Unlike many crypto loans that trigger margin calls on roughly 25% price drops, Milo’s product is structured more conservatively and can accommodate drawdowns up to around 65%. If volatility moves past set thresholds, Milo said it will “derisk” loans—reducing loan-to-value to more conventional levels (around 65–70%)—so borrowers can keep making mortgage payments rather than risking home loss during market drawdowns. Footprint and recent deals Milo has completed transactions in Miami (a property hotspot), elsewhere in Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, Connecticut and Arizona. The record $12 million mortgage cited in the release took place in Tennessee. Endorsements Bitcoin pioneer and Blockstream CEO Adam Back praised the product: “Milo’s product is a game changer in bitcoin lending and unlocks real world use cases for so many bitcoiners. While bitcoin continues to appreciate, buyers are able to build equity in real estate and don't have to sell their long term conviction, bitcoin.” Bottom line Milo’s milestone underscores growing demand from long-term crypto holders who want liquidity for major purchases without selling assets. With expanding state licenses, a conservative risk model and institutional custody options, Milo is positioning itself as a niche mortgage provider for buyers whose wealth is concentrated in BTC and ETH. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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