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Christie’s International Real Estate has unveiled crypto division that lets luxury homes trade only in Bitcoin or Ether, skipping banks and escrow wires. The new unit, led from Los Angeles, has already closed a headline $65 million Beverly Hills sale settled entirely in digital coins, signalling rising demand from privacy‑minded buyers.
Crypto outlet CoinGape reported listings worth more than $1 billion, including the $118 million Bel Air estate “La Fin” and Joshua Tree’s $18 million “Invisible House.” Bitcoinist later highlighted recent sale as proof that high‑net‑worth clients will swap coins for bricks when deals close fast and names stay off public records.
“Crypto brings added anonymity and speed that our clients value above all,” said Aaron Kirman, president of Christie’s Southern California operations, explaining why the brokerage assembled lawyers, compliance staff and price‑feed engineers to guard each on‑chain transfer.
Christie’s move follows a wave of tokenized deals from Dubai to Miami as regulators loosen rules on digital settlements. In Washington, pending stable‑coin laws promise clearer guardrails, while mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac study how to treat crypto wealth in underwriting. Analysts say traditional agents may have to follow suit or risk losing the newest class of cash‑rich buyers.
For now, the art‑to‑property powerhouse is betting that transferable wallet keys and real‑time blockchain audits can replace wire instructions and notarized checks. If volumes hold, Christie’s expects its crypto desk to handle a third of West Coast luxury closings within five years, reshaping how global fortunes reach U.S. real estate.
