US 30-year fixed mortgage rates climbed to 6.81% as of July 31, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the highest level in over a year, up from 6.76% the prior week. Mortgage applications fell 6.4% week-over-week, with refinancing activity down 10%. Homeowners with sub-5% rates locked in during 2020-2022 have zero incentive to refinance. Coinbase partnered with Better Home & Finance in March 2026 to launch crypto-collateral mortgages, but these loans carry rates 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points above standard rates, potentially reaching as high as 8.3%. This premium essentially acts as a volatility tax, reflecting lenders’ discomfort with assets that can swing 20% in a week.
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