Better Reports Q1 Revenue of $47.5M, Loan Volume Up 89% YoY
Reports Q1 revenue $47.5M, consensus $47.7M. "Q1 2026 was a strong quarter for Better. We grew loan volume 89% year over year and exceeded the high end of our previously-issued guidance with revenue up 52% year over year. Tinman AI platform volume made up 50% of our loan volume, a level we expect to build from," said Vishal Garg, CEO and Founder of Better. "Going into Q2, the higher-rate macro environment is shifting our mix toward HELOCs, and we are leaning into that shift. HELOCs come in at lower loan balance than refinance, but they carry higher gain on sale margins, which is driving meaningful revenue growth in Q2. And in the month of April alone, our top of funnel increased dramatically as our existing partnership pre-approval volume 2x'ed within the month, to grow from $100 million per day to a $200 million per day as one of our larger partners increased customer exposure to our product. This is a huge reservoir of pent-up customer demand, that while it may hesitate to lock and fund immediately now due to the uncertainty in the Middle East and elevated rates, it will unlock into massive volume and revenue growth once things settle down. Combined with the capital and cost actions we took earlier this year, we are well-positioned to continue advancing toward profitability."
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- First Bitcoin-Backed Mortgage: Coinbase and Better Mortgage have launched the first Fannie Mae-backed mortgage secured by Bitcoin and USDC, allowing homebuyers to use digital assets as collateral instead of cash down payments, which is expected to attract younger buyers.
- Market Demand Insight: Better claims that 41% of its pre-approved customers cannot make traditional down payments due to cash shortages, and leveraging digital assets as collateral could reduce this percentage, thereby addressing housing needs among the younger generation.
- Innovative Mortgage Structure: The new mortgage employs a dual-loan structure, with a traditional loan covering the entire home and a second token-based loan covering only the down payment, intentionally over-collateralized at 250% in Bitcoin or 125% in USDC to mitigate market volatility.
- Future Outlook: While this mortgage product may not gain rapid traction, it offers an intriguing glimpse into a future where Bitcoin and stablecoins can be pledged as collateral for home purchases, particularly appealing to younger investors.
- First Bitcoin Mortgage: A Michigan couple has secured the country's first Bitcoin-backed mortgage through Better and Coinbase, marking a new trend in utilizing digital assets for real estate financing that could attract younger homebuyers.
- Opportunity for Young Buyers: Better claims that 41% of its pre-approved customers cannot make traditional down payments due to cash shortages, and allowing them to use Bitcoin or USDC as collateral could reduce this percentage, thereby expanding the potential customer base.
- Innovative Mortgage Structure: The mortgage from Coinbase and Better employs a dual-loan structure, where a traditional loan covers the entire home while a second token-based loan covers the down payment, with the latter over-collateralized in Bitcoin (250%) or USDC (125%) to mitigate market volatility.
- Market Outlook: While this product may not gain traction beyond a niche of crypto investors, it offers an intriguing glimpse into the future of real estate transactions, showcasing the potential for Bitcoin and stablecoins to be used as collateral, particularly among younger investors.
- First Crypto-Backed Mortgage: Coinbase and BETR provided their first Fannie Mae-eligible crypto-backed mortgage to a married couple in their early 30s in Michigan, showcasing a new application of crypto assets in real estate financing.
- Positive Market Reaction: BETR shares rose 4.28% to $27.54 during morning trading on Thursday, indicating market approval of this innovative product, while COIN shares slightly declined by 0.12% to $163.02, reflecting investor caution in the crypto market.
- Innovative Loan Structure: The mortgage allows borrowers to use cryptocurrency as collateral instead of liquidating their long-term Bitcoin holdings, thus avoiding capital gains taxes and retaining future appreciation potential, addressing the needs of modern buyers.
- Expanding Market Access: Approximately 41% of BETR's pre-approved customers qualify based on income and credit but lack cash for traditional down payments; this new product aims to resolve this issue and help more qualified borrowers achieve homeownership.
- First Bitcoin-Backed Mortgage: Better Home & Finance and Coinbase have launched the first Fannie Mae-backed mortgage in the U.S. utilizing Bitcoin as collateral, with plans to make it available to qualified borrowers nationwide by Summer 2026, addressing the financial needs of modern homebuyers and enhancing housing accessibility.
- Digital Asset Collateral Innovation: This mortgage product allows borrowers to use Bitcoin and USDC as collateral, avoiding capital gains taxes from liquidating digital assets, catering to 41% of pre-approved customers who qualify on income and credit but lack traditional down payment cash.
- Rising Homebuyer Age: According to the National Association of Realtors, the median age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. has risen to 40 years, up from 32 a decade ago, reflecting the impact of high mortgage rates and rising home prices, prompting the introduction of this product to address the trend.
- Partner Selection: Better chose Coinbase to power its mortgage offering due to its trustworthiness and compliance in the U.S., ensuring the security and market responsibility of this innovative product, marking a new opportunity for digital assets in housing finance.
- Leadership Change: BetterLife Pharma has appointed Doug Drysdale as Executive Chairman, who previously served as CEO of Cybin, successfully advancing the company from molecule inception to Phase 3 trials in just three years, showcasing his exceptional leadership in the biotech sector.
- Strategic Value Enhancement: Drysdale's addition is expected to bring global leadership experience and a rich background in executing successful transactions, significantly strengthening BetterLife's strategic insights and operational capabilities, thereby driving long-term shareholder value creation.
- Equity Incentive Plan: The company will grant Drysdale stock options for 3.5 million shares at an exercise price of $0.065, vesting monthly over 24 months with a 10-year term, aimed at attracting and retaining executive talent to foster company growth.
- Innovative Drug Development: BetterLife focuses on developing BETR-001 for treating neurological disorders, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, featuring unique self-administration characteristics that are expected to eliminate regulatory hurdles and provide strong momentum for future growth.
- Loan Volume Growth: Better Home achieved approximately $1.64 billion in funded loan volume in Q1 2026, reflecting an 89% year-over-year increase, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the market, although macroeconomic pressures may impact future growth.
- Revenue and Cost Dynamics: Revenue from continuing operations grew approximately 52% year-over-year to $47.5 million, despite an adjusted EBITDA loss of approximately $19 million, highlighting the need for improved cost control alongside revenue growth to achieve profitability.
- Strategic Investment and Expansion: The company plans to cut at least $25 million in annualized costs in Q2 and expand warehouse capacity by 48% to $850 million, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and support future business growth.
- Market Outlook and Challenges: While Q2 funded loan volume is expected to remain flat, revenue is projected to grow by approximately 15%, yet management expresses caution regarding macroeconomic uncertainties, emphasizing the potential need for deeper cost cuts in response to rising interest rates.











