Christie’s International Real Estate Now Accepts Crypto for Property Deals

Christie’s is stepping up its digital game again — this time, letting you buy a luxury home with Bitcoin, Ether, or other cryptocurrencies. The company behind some of the most iconic art auctions in history is now bridging the gap between high-end real estate and blockchain wealth.

Buyers Can Now Skip the Bank, Go Full Crypto

Christie’s International Real Estate, the property arm of the legendary auction house, has officially opened the door to crypto-based transactions for high-end properties. That means buyers and sellers can close multi-million dollar real estate deals entirely through digital assets — no banks, no wires, no waiting days for money to clear.

The decision follows a wave of crypto-friendly policy developments in the U.S. But Christie’s isn’t just reacting to regulation. CEO Aaron Kirman says this move was long in the making. “The trend was obvious — crypto is here to stay,” he told The New York Times.

And they’re not playing it safe either. Christie’s has already closed crypto deals. Behind the scenes, there’s now a dedicated team of legal and financial experts just for handling these kinds of sales. This isn’t a test run. It’s a full-blown activation.

$1 Billion in Crypto-Ready Real Estate

The numbers behind Christie’s crypto rollout are pretty wild. According to The Times, more than $1 billion worth of real estate in their portfolio is now listed with sellers open to crypto payments. That’s not some niche pilot program — that’s a serious market shift.

Short sentence, because it’s a lot to take in.

And it’s not just happening in New York or Los Angeles. Christie’s International Real Estate operates across nearly 50 countries, with strongholds in Paris, London, Dubai, Singapore, and more. This gives global crypto holders a pretty sizable shopping list.

Kirman says he’s already seeing “high demand” from ultra-wealthy clients looking to move digital wealth into physical assets. One of the selling points? Anonymity. Buyers can keep their names out of the public registry until later in the process, giving privacy-conscious crypto millionaires more room to breathe.

Lawmakers Just Gave Crypto Real Estate a Boost

Christie’s timing? Not accidental. Their crypto pivot comes hot on the heels of America’s biggest crypto policy shift in years.

Last week, the U.S. Congress passed the GENIUS and CLARITY acts during what insiders dubbed “Crypto Week” in D.C. President Trump signed the GENIUS Act — focused on stablecoin regulation — into law on Friday. For the first time, stablecoins now have a federal legal framework.

That framework has opened the floodgates for crypto to move more freely into mainstream finance. Real estate, being one of the largest asset classes on earth, is the natural next step.

And let’s not forget: in June, the federal housing agency told Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin factoring in regulated crypto holdings during mortgage risk assessments. While only centralized exchange assets count right now, it’s a massive nod of legitimacy for digital wealth.

A History of Embracing Crypto and Digital Art

If any legacy brand was going to go crypto-first in real estate, it makes sense that it’s Christie’s.

They’ve been here before — and early. Back in 2021, Christie’s made headlines by auctioning off Beeple’s “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” NFT for a staggering $69.3 million. That auction helped trigger the NFT explosion and launched Christie’s into Web3 territory.

They didn’t stop there. The auction house created Christie’s 3.0, its own on-chain NFT platform. And just last week, they closed another big-ticket NFT sale: Lionel Messi’s collaboration with digital artist Refik Anadol sold for $1.85 million under the hammer.

They’re comfortable moving in crypto-native circles. Now they’re bringing that comfort into the real world.

Here’s a quick snapshot of Christie’s digital ventures:

It’s hard to think of another brand from the 18th century that’s done this much in Web3.

High-End Buyers Are Leaning In

So who’s actually buying homes with crypto? According to Kirman, it’s mostly crypto-native millionaires and billionaires — people with major wealth tied up in digital assets who now want something tangible to hold on to.

His team says the desire to diversify is huge. Especially now, with digital wealth more legitimized and regulated, high-end buyers are looking for ways to turn token portfolios into waterfront mansions, penthouses, and vineyard estates.

Bullet points, because the details matter:

• Many buyers are crypto whales sitting on long-held assets.

• Sellers often include private individuals, not just developers.

• Transactions are supported by crypto-friendly legal structures.

• Anonymity, speed, and international access are top drivers.

One industry insider told The Defiant that Christie’s move is already pushing other high-end brokerages to rethink their offerings. “You either adapt, or lose the next generation of buyers,” they said.

What Comes Next?

With U.S. legislation paving the road, and institutional adoption ramping up, crypto real estate may be moving out of novelty status. And Christie’s is positioning itself right at the front of the pack.

But challenges remain. Not all jurisdictions are as crypto-friendly. Foreign exchange rules, local tax structures, and capital gains laws vary wildly. The firm will need to adapt its legal playbook constantly to make crypto transactions viable across borders.

Still, the momentum is hard to ignore. Kirman didn’t reply to The Defiant by press time, but his message to The New York Times was clear: the appetite for crypto deals is very real.

And now, it’s being served on a silver platter — by Christie’s, no less.