Guides · Last reviewed 31 October 2026 · 5-minute read

Using crypto money for a house deposit: what solicitors ask for

Crypto money can fund a home, but solicitors and lenders must be able to trace it: from the money you first put in, through every move, to the money that reaches your bank. Without a clear trail, purchases get delayed, and some firms turn crypto money away.

Why crypto money gets extra checks

Solicitors must check where purchase money comes from under the anti-money laundering rules. The Law Society treats crypto proceeds as higher risk and expects firms to establish that the original money used to buy the crypto came from a legitimate source, then trace it through to the purchase funds. Firms that can't do that analysis may decline the work or bring in an accountant.

In practice, many conveyancers refuse deposits from crypto they can't trace. Mixing crypto proceeds into an account with your savings can make the whole pot hard to use, because the two can no longer be separated. Many mortgage lenders still have no clear policy on crypto money, and ask for a full trail and evidence that tax has been dealt with.

What solicitors usually ask for

1. Where the original money came from, such as payslips or savings statements.
2. Bank statements showing transfers from your account to the exchanges.
3. Exchange records: deposits, trades and withdrawals.
4. Wallet histories, for coins you moved off exchanges and back.
5. Proof of the sale back to pounds, and the withdrawal into your bank account.
6. Evidence that tax on any gains has been reported, or will be.

A stack of statements isn't the same as a trail. What helps most is one clear summary that links each step to the next, with the records behind it.

Before you sell: make it easier

• Speak to your solicitor and lender early, before you sell, and ask exactly what they will need. Some firms and lenders won't accept crypto money at all, and it's better to know now.
• Use a reputable exchange, ideally one registered with the FCA. Solicitors take the exchange into account when assessing risk.
• Withdraw into a separate bank account used only for crypto proceeds, rather than mixing them with savings.
• Allow for price moves: crypto prices can change a lot between deciding to sell and completion, so plan the timing.
• Sort out the tax first: work out the gains on what you sell and report them. Solicitors and lenders may ask for proof.
• Keep everything: exports, statements and wallet addresses, from the start of your crypto history.

If your trail has gaps

Old exchanges close and exports go missing. Gaps can often be filled from your bank statements (money going in and coming out), the blockchain itself (withdrawals to your own wallets are public), old confirmation emails, or a data request to the exchange. Our guide to transfers between your own wallets explains how moves between wallets are matched.

Prefer to hand it over?

We prepare a source-of-funds report: one document tracing the money you put into crypto, every move between your wallets and exchanges, and the money that reached your bank, with capital gains figures for each sale. It sets out the facts in your records for your solicitor or lender to review; whether they accept it is their decision.

Sources

• The Law Society: Can my client use bitcoin to purchase property?
• Kingsley Napley: Buying property with the proceeds of cryptocurrency
• Today's Conveyancer: Source of funds basics now the biggest risk in property transactions

General information, not tax advice. Your own situation may differ; if you are unsure, speak to an accountant.