In a groundbreaking move, the Southern California affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate has become the first major U.S. brokerage to establish a division dedicated exclusively to cryptocurrency-based transactions.
The new unit—staffed with attorneys, market analysts, and crypto specialists—was unveiled Thursday, following years of handling high-value sales in which buyers opted to pay in digital currency. One such deal was the $65 million sale of a Beverly Hills mansion, in which the buyer insisted on using cryptocurrency instead of cash.
Aaron Kirman, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, said those experiences made it clear there was “a real market” for crypto in real estate.
“Crypto is here to stay—its influence in real estate is only going to grow in the coming years,” Kirman emphasized.
The firm has already closed multiple eight-figure, crypto-only sales totaling more than $200 million. Kirman currently manages a portfolio worth over $1 billion in properties whose sellers are open exclusively to digital currency offers.
Flagship listings include:
Just this week, the brokerage added another luxury property priced above $10 million to its crypto-exclusive portfolio.
Kirman predicts that within five years, cryptocurrency could be involved in over one-third of U.S. residential real estate transactions—extending well beyond the luxury sector. Discussions are already underway with major banks to accept digital assets for properties requiring traditional financing.
The Trump administration has accelerated this trend, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider crypto holdings as assets when assessing mortgage applicants. President Donald Trump has positioned himself as a “crypto president,” pledging to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the world.”
Since January, the administration has appointed David Sacks as “crypto czar,” hosted the first White House Crypto Summit, and enacted the GENIUS Act, which establishes federal regulations for stablecoins. The House has also passed the CLARITY Act, aimed at creating a clear regulatory framework for digital assets.
Despite the momentum, the use of cryptocurrency in real estate remains limited. A National Association of Realtors® survey found that between July 2023 and June 2024, just 1% of buyers who made a down payment used proceeds from the sale of crypto assets.
Even so, Christie’s Southern California is betting on a future where digital currency plays a central role in property transactions—positioning itself ahead of the curve in a