Christie's International Real Estate has launched a blockchain-based real estate division enabling cryptocurrency transactions for luxury properties valued at over $1 billion. Led by CEO Aaron Kirman, the division will accept Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as payment, with Kirman stating: "The trend was obvious, crypto is here to stay. It’s only going to get bigger."
The initiative follows Kirman's prior success in high-profile crypto property deals, including a $65 million mansion sale completed using digital assets. Christie's aims to establish compliance frameworks that could set industry standards for crypto due diligence in real estate transactions.
This move aligns with broader institutional adoption trends, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's plans to accept cryptocurrency for mortgage reserves by 2025 and regulatory advancements like the Genius Act for stablecoins. Analysts suggest the development may accelerate cryptocurrency integration in traditional finance, particularly for high-value asset classes.