Over US$1B in Luxury Homes Now Open to Digital Deals

Luxury real estate brokerage Christie’s International Real Estate has launched a new division focused on cryptocurrency transactions, becoming the first major US firm to assemble a dedicated team for crypto-based home sales.

This unit handles deals involving digital assets exclusively, bypassing traditional banking systems entirely. It formed after several successful transactions, including a significant US$65 million (AU$98.70 million) purchase in Beverly Hills.

Christie’s Southern California CEO Aaron Kirman told The New York Times that this shift is driven by demand from buyers who prefer privacy and digital payments over traditional financing.

The trend was obvious – crypto is here to stay. It’s only going to get bigger over the next few years.

Aaron Kirman, CEO of Christie’s Southern California

Anonymity and speed are major draws for crypto buyers. Some transactions are completed without the seller ever knowing the buyer’s identity, relying instead on legal representatives to verify the source of funds. Many buyers establish LLCs funded via crypto, reducing transparency compared to bank-backed entities.

At present, Christie’s oversees a portfolio exceeding US$1 billion (AU$1.52 billion) in properties available for crypto-only purchases. These include the Invisible House in Joshua Tree (AU$27.24 million), La Fin in Bel Air (AU$179.17 million), and the Nightingale in Beverly Hills (AU$95.66 million).

Related: US Real Estate Agent Launches $100M Tokenised Multifamily Fund on Blockchain

Policy Shifts Pave the Way Forward

The launch coincides with favourable shifts in US policy. The GENIUS Act, recently enacted, regulates stablecoins, while the CLARITY Act passed in the House, aims to protect crypto from excessive oversight. Earlier this year, the US Federal Housing Finance Agency instructed mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to draft plans allowing verified crypto assets held on regulated US exchanges to be counted in mortgage underwriting.

Looking ahead, Kirman believes crypto could represent over 33% of residential sales in the US within five years. For Christie’s, the division is a strategic step to attract wealthy digital asset holders seeking real-world investments.

Related: Tether Eyes US Institutional Launch Following GENIUS Act Approval