Christie’s International Real Estate is taking a major step into the digital currency world by establishing a dedicated crypto division.
This move comes as demand grows among ultra-wealthy buyers who prefer to purchase properties using cryptocurrencies rather than traditional banking methods.
Speaking with The New York Times, Aaron Kirman, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate, explained that the firm has already closed several significant property deals involving crypto payments. The decision to create a specialised division was inspired by a landmark 2021 sale, where a Beverly Hills mansion changed hands for $65 million paid entirely in Bitcoin. That transaction was completed without any bank involvement, relying on a team of legal, compliance, and crypto experts to maintain security and regulatory compliance.
Building on this success, Christie’s plans to formalise the process, focusing on real estate transactions conducted exclusively with digital assets. Kirman noted that both buyers and sellers are showing increasing interest in crypto deals, driven largely by privacy concerns.
“Privacy is a huge driver,”
Kirman said, highlighting that celebrities and international investors are turning to cryptocurrencies for the enhanced anonymity they offer. While many wealthy buyers already use LLCs and trusts to conceal ownership, blockchain-based transactions add another layer of discretion, making it difficult to trace the parties involved.
Currently, Christie’s has over $1 billion worth of properties listed where sellers are open to accepting crypto payments. These include high-profile listings such as a $63 million Beverly Hills estate and the iconic “Invisible House” in Joshua Tree, priced at nearly $18 million. Kirman said many of these sellers see crypto acceptance as a way to attract tech-savvy and innovative buyers.
In 2021, the auction house made headlines as the first major auctioneer to sell an NFT artwork — Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days — for a record-breaking $69.3 million. Since then, it has launched its own Ethereum-based NFT platform and hosted numerous digital art auctions.
Although crypto-based real estate purchases remain relatively rare, they are steadily gaining traction. The Open House Group recently began accepting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin for real estate deals.
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