The mortgage industry just crossed a line it’s avoided for years

If you’re crypto-rich and cash-poor, you might still have a shot at securing a home loan without having to sell off your assets.

Starting next month, mortgage lender Newrez will let applicants count their cryptocurrency when applying for a home loan. Historically, a borrower’s crypto holdings wouldn’t be considered in the loan application process. For anyone holding a large amount of digital currency, liquidating some—and incurring that tax bill—might be necessary to qualify for a loan...