Christie's Launches Crypto Real Estate Division
Christie's International Real Estate, one of the largest luxury brokerages in the United States, has launched a new division specifically for handling property transactions using digital currencies like bitcoin, according to The New York Times. The unit enables buyers and sellers to complete deals entirely with cryptocurrency, bypassing banks. Led by Aaron Kirman, CEO of Christie's Southern California, the team includes lawyers, analysts, and crypto experts to manage digital transactions.
Kirman noted, "The trend was obvious — crypto is here to stay. It's only going to get bigger over the next few years." The division was created after several multimillion-dollar crypto property sales, including a $65 million Beverly Hills property where the buyer paid in bitcoin. Christie's now lists over $1 billion in homes whose sellers are willing to accept bitcoin.
Policy and Market Drivers
The move comes amid growing federal support for digital assets. President Trump recently signed the Genius Act to regulate stablecoins, and the House passed the Clarity Act aimed at easing restrictions on the crypto industry. These policies create a more favorable environment for crypto adoption in traditional sectors like real estate.
Chris Hanley, owner of the Invisible House, said, "Accepting cryptocurrency signals an openness to innovative buyers, some of whom are crypto millionaires and billionaires looking for real-world assets to diversify." Bitcoin is often used in these deals for privacy, with buyers setting up LLCs funded with bitcoin. According to Kirman, some sellers never learn the buyer's identity.
Specific Properties and Privacy
Properties now listed for bitcoin include the $118 million La Fin mansion in Bel Air and the Invisible House in Joshua Tree, priced at nearly $18 million. Christie's is also in discussions with banks to explore bitcoin-backed financing.
Kirman emphasized, "We've been really successful at protecting buyer identity. And if my seller feels comfortable not knowing the identity of his buyer, then God bless America." Buyers bypass banks entirely, using bitcoin as their main payment method. This approach was also explored in the latest episode of Bitcoin for Corporations, where host Pierre Rochard and Murano Global Investments CEO Elías Sacal discussed how Bitcoin is disrupting traditional real estate investment.