According to Cointelegraph, a report by economists at the U.S. Treasury Department shows that more and more low-income families are using the income from cryptocurrency investments to apply for mortgages.
The report noted that the share of mortgages held by low-income households in areas with high cryptocurrency exposure increased by more than 250%, with the average mortgage balance increasing from approximately $172,000 in 2020 to approximately $443,000 in 2024.
The study used tax data to identify areas of high cryptocurrency exposure, defined as ZIP codes where more than 6% of households reported cryptocurrency tax exposure.
Although delinquency rates in these areas remain low, high leverage could pose risks if economic conditions deteriorate. The researchers stressed that increasing debt balances and leverage among low-income households need to be watched in the future.