Mansions, Meet the Metaverse: Christie's LA Goes All-In on Crypto Real Estate

In a bold (but probably inevitable) move, Christie’s International Real Estate’s Southern California branch just became the first major U.S. brokerage to launch a crypto-only division. That’s right—multi-million dollar homes, no cash required. Just bring your Bitcoin.

The luxury firm has assembled a team of lawyers, market analysts, and crypto pros to handle the new unit, which launched last week. CEO Aaron Kirman says the idea came straight from their ultra-wealthy clients—especially after handling a $65 million Beverly Hills sale paid entirely in cryptocurrency.

From Crypto Wallets to Bel-Air Mansions

Christie’s SoCal has already closed over $200 million in crypto-based real estate deals, and Kirman says there’s over $1 billion worth of listings in the pipeline that are open to crypto-only offers.

Two of the wildest properties include:

• “La Fin” – a $118 million Bel-Air mansion with its own nightclub, climbing wall, vodka tasting room, and cigar lounge.

• The Nightingale – a sleek $63 million Beverly Hills home with panoramic views, a private spa, and a 115-foot infinity pool.

They even added a fresh $10M+ crypto-friendly listing this week.

Why Crypto Buyers Love It

So why go the digital route? According to Kirman, privacy and speed are big draws. Many high-end buyers want to keep their names off public records, and traditional LLCs don’t offer enough protection. But when you back an LLC with crypto? Much harder to trace.

Christie’s has already handled deals where neither side knew the other's identity, with all negotiations handled securely through reps. Of course, lawyers still verify that the crypto used is legit and not, say, from a dark web treasure chest.

Plus, international buyers love the convenience—no bank delays, no currency conversion headaches, just fast transfers from a digital wallet.

Can You Get a Crypto Mortgage?

Yep, and that market’s growing fast. According to HFT Market Intelligence, crypto mortgages are expected to explode from $8.55 billion to $45.27 billion by 2030.

Some lenders even offer zero down payment options, as long as your crypto collateral matches the value of the home. So if you’re eyeing a $600K place, be ready to pledge $600K worth of crypto.

You can also go old-school and put down some cash to reduce the amount of crypto used—or skip loans entirely and pay straight in digital currency, which is what Christie’s new division specializes in.

The Bigger Picture

Crypto’s presence in real estate is still small—just 1% of buyers used crypto gains for down payments last year, according to a NAR survey—but things are heating up fast.

Even Washington’s watching. President Trump recently signed the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins, while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now being told to consider crypto when evaluating mortgage applications. Oh, and there’s even a new “crypto czar” in the White House.

As Kirman sees it, we’re on the edge of a real estate revolution—and you might just buy your next house with a few taps on a crypto wallet instead of a cashier’s check.