Cryptocurrency is steadily gaining traction in global housing markets, transforming how homes are bought and sold. However, this doesn’t come as a surprise.
As of mid-2025, over 659 million people worldwide – roughly 1 in 13 – now use crypto. Moreover, institutional and individual interests have surged. For example, stablecoin transaction volume hit $8.5 trillion in Q2 2024, over double Visa’s quarterly volume, speaking to crypto’s capacity to settle large payments.
These trends, coupled with a boom in crypto wealth (crypto millionaires grew 95% in 2024 and holders with significant crypto assets rose ~45% through 2024), have set the stage for crypto-valued housing transactions to cross the billion-dollar threshold.
That’s worth talking about.
Early Pioneers Set The Stage
The first Bitcoin-backed home purchases date to the mid-2010s. A landmark UK sale in 2017 and Texas’s first BTC home deal in 2021 demonstrated viability, even recording prices on blockchain-friendly land registries.
In the U.S., private buyers began using crypto as early as 2020. One notable example relates to when media mogul Michael Arrington bought a Miami Beach penthouse in 2021 for $22.5 million in Bitcoin. These high-profile cases generated publicity and confidence.
At the same time, PropTech platforms emerged to bridge crypto and property: for instance, blockchain real-estate firm TEKCE completed Turkey’s first BTC flat sale in 2017 and reports it has since facilitated crypto payments in over 2,500 property deals.
Such early successes created proof-of-concept and attracted affluent crypto holders to real estate.
However, they also exposed hurdles (volatility, legal uncertainty), prompting the industry to develop better payment processes.
By 2024, observers noted crypto‐friendly mortgage and escrow services springing up, as well as tokenization platforms.
In short, early adopters blazed a trail: their transactions – often luxury or overseas homes – showed that digital currency could move large sums efficiently, laying the groundwork for the wider volume seen in 2024-25.
2024–25 Milestones and Metrics
Crypto real estate deals continue to grow sharply in 2025. A private analysis by fintech platform ABFSwap found that over 20% of its platform’s real estate transactions in 2024 were funded with cryptocurrency. That reflects a broader tripling of crypto-for-property offers since 2021. Globally, a few key metrics illustrate the momentum:
Listings Accepting Crypto
By early 2025, roughly 3–5% of European home listings (about 1,500–2,000 properties) accepted crypto payments, mostly high-end homes over €1 million.
In the U.S., this share is estimated at 7–10%, indicating stronger crypto integration in certain markets. These percentages have climbed steadily: according to industry reports, crypto-enabled offers in Europe have tripled from 2021 to 2024.
Sales Volumes
While official global tallies are scarce, individual brokers report booming activity. For example, Spanish firm Spain Homes completed 15 home sales paid with crypto in October 2024, at an average price of around €500,000 each. In January 2025, ABFSwap documented a €1.2 million Cyprus home bought with crypto on its site.
On the lending side, Miami fintech Milo, which offers 30-year mortgages collateralized by Bitcoin, reported surpassing $65 million in crypto mortgage loans by early 2025 (originating over $250M across products). Milo also notes that clients have “accumulated an additional $50 million in Bitcoin” by avoiding forced crypto sales for down payments.
Buyer Demographics
The current crypto-buyer tends to be younger and tech-savvy. Industry data show 94% of cryptocurrency holders are Millennials or Gen Z – exactly the demographics powering many first-home purchases worldwide. Many of these buyers now prefer crypto-friendly payment options when investing in property.
At the top end, the explosion of crypto wealth is spawning a new class of luxury buyers: the number of people with “significant funds in cryptocurrencies” jumped 45% in 2024. This deep pool of crypto capital is increasingly targeting real estate as a store of value and hedge, especially in stable markets.
Transaction Efficiency
One draw of crypto is lower fees and faster settlement. Traditionally, international home purchases incur 2–5% in bank fees; crypto transfers typically cost ~1% or less. On major blockchains, transfers settle in minutes instead of days. For high‑value deals (think €1M+ properties), the savings can be tens of thousands.
As a matter of fact, one buyer saved ~€44,000 in fees by paying in crypto on a €1.2M home. Such advantages, while technical, have a real impact on buyer interest and deal flow.
Taken together, these metrics demonstrate that residential real estate is no longer a novelty use case. In hotspot markets – luxury condos in Miami, villas in Spain or Cyprus, mountain retreats in Japan or Turkey – paying with crypto is now routine for some buyers.
While precise totals remain proprietary, the surge in multimillion-dollar deals and expanding market share make it all but certain that total crypto real estate transaction volume will cross the $1 billion mark this year.
Hot Markets, Platforms, and Profiles
The crypto-real estate phenomenon is global but unevenly distributed. Notable hubs and players include:
United States (Florida, Texas, California)
Florida’s first crypto home sale was arranged by blockchain-based realty service Propy in 2022.
Since Miami and Miami Beach have become crypto payment hotspots, developers now market condos to crypto investors, and cities host crypto-finance conventions.
Nationwide, high-wealth crypto holders are active buyers: Arrington’s $22.5M Miami deal and other six-figure purchases make headlines. U.S. platforms like Milo (crypto mortgages) and crypto-friendly brokers are serving this demand.
Europe (Spain, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus, Germany)
Southern Europe leads, thanks to favorable regulations and crypto-savvy investors.
Spain – particularly coastal resorts – sees heavy interest from international crypto buyers. Spain Homes’ 15-transaction month exemplifies the trend.
Portugal’s open tax policies also attracted crypto millionaires buying homes (though much of that pre-dated 2024).
In northern Europe, countries like Germany are warming up as crypto comfort grows. In all cases, “crypto-friendly” developers and agencies (often marketing directly online) list specific Bitcoin/ETH payment options.
Middle East (Dubai and UAE)
Dubai has firmly positioned itself as a crypto hub for real estate. In May 2025, the Dubai market saw 66.8 billion dirhams ($18.2B) in sales across 18,700 deals – a 44% year-on-year jump.
This boom coincides with major blockchain initiatives: the emirate’s largest developer (MAG) signed a $3 billion deal to tokenize luxury projects, and the Dubai regulator VARA approved new guidelines for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
Leading developments now explicitly accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even stablecoins. Neighboring Abu Dhabi and other Gulf regions are also exploring crypto sales, though Dubai is furthest along.
Asia-Pacific (Japan, Southeast Asia)
Asia’s largest economies are awakening to crypto real estate. In Japan, for instance, national developer Open House Group began accepting BTC and ETH for property purchases in 2025 – the first major Asian company to do so. The move caters to foreign investors seeking simpler cross-border deals.
In China and Hong Kong, onshore crypto is restricted, but adjacent markets (Singapore, Malaysia) have boutique crypto property services.
In Southeast Asia, where crypto adoption is high, some urban projects (e.g., in Vietnam or Thailand) promote crypto payments, though comprehensive data are still emerging.
A Note on Platforms and Brokers
Several specialized marketplaces and service providers have risen (the following list is exemplary and not exhaustive):
- CryptoRealEstate.cc aggregates thousands of global listings purchasable in crypto, connecting buyers, sellers, agencies, and developers worldwide.
- In the U.S., Propy has built a blockchain-powered title and escrow platform, supported by Coinbase Custody, that enables seamless crypto and traditional closings in states like Florida, Arizona, and Colorado.
- RealT, Lumia.org, and similar tokenization platforms allow investors to buy fractions of residential properties using crypto payments.
- Backend infrastructure providers like CoinsPaid are laying critical rails for crypto payments in real estate.
Collectively, these platforms are professionalizing crypto property deals, handling KYC, automatic fiat conversion, and legal compliance to make transactions smooth.
What’s Next?
Regulatory and Legal Clarity
One of the biggest factors shaping the future of crypto in real estate is regulation. In the U.S., lawmakers continue to debate how to treat stablecoins – a decision that could have significant implications for cross-border home purchases. Meanwhile, property professionals are still waiting for clearer tax guidance on crypto-funded real estate deals.
Across the Atlantic, the EU’s MiCA framework – in force since 2023 – is beginning to give institutional buyers more confidence in crypto assets.
In the Middle East, Dubai is taking the lead: newly introduced laws around tokenized real estate and licensed crypto exchanges are explicitly supporting this emerging market.
Globally, the expectation is that regulation will gradually catch up to the technology, unlocking more widespread crypto-mortgage products, standardizing escrow processes, and clarifying how capital gains and property taxes apply to crypto-funded transactions.
Infrastructure and Innovation
The underlying tech is maturing fast. Tokenization – the process of dividing a property into tradable digital shares – is already being piloted in countries like the UAE and Japan. These initiatives aim to expand access to real estate ownership by allowing investors to purchase fractions of homes, much like buying stocks.
At the same time, crypto payment infrastructure is becoming more practical. Stablecoins and crypto-fiat gateways like CoinsPaid now offer near-instant settlement at closing. There are also aspects such as guaranteed exchange rates and instant crypto-fiat capabilities to consider.
Smart-contract-based escrow services are also gaining traction, enabling conditional settlement (e.g., releasing funds only when the title is transferred), which reduces risks for buyers and sellers alike.
Shifting Buyer Demographics
The profile of the crypto homebuyer is evolving. Initially, it was dominated by high-net-worth individuals converting large single investments into tangible assets. But in 2025, we’re seeing broader participation.
Some families are now using long-term crypto holdings to invest in stable-income rental properties. Others are hedging against fiat inflation by parking capital in real estate. Millennials and Gen Z – who grew up with digital assets – are also entering the market in larger numbers. These digital-native buyers increasingly expect real estate platforms to support crypto payments, and some agencies now even offer discounts for using them.
In countries with high crypto penetration – like parts of Latin America, Africa, or Southeast Asia – we may see niche crypto-property markets emerge, especially for cross-border purchases made with stablecoins.
Market Trends to Watch
Luxury to Mainstream
Until now, most crypto real estate deals have skewed toward the luxury segment, with average prices often north of €500,000, as seen in Spain Homes’ activity. But that’s beginning to change.
In 2025, we expect crypto to gain traction in mid-market properties as smaller developers and suburban projects begin accepting digital assets. Some companies are even offering full crypto financing for middle-income buyers, using digital assets as collateral.
Tokenized Ownership & Real Estate Funds
Fractional ownership via tokenized real estate is becoming more viable. Several U.S. and European platforms now allow investors to buy into residential property portfolios using crypto.
In 2024, a number of real estate funds raised stablecoin investment rounds to tokenize their rental holdings. If regulation catches up, platforms like RealT or Property Token could open global access to shares in single-family homes, fully on-chain.
New Geographic Frontiers
Next-wave growth may come from countries with streamlined titling systems and crypto-friendly policies. Eastern Europe – including Poland and the Czech Republic – has seen rising interest, with some brokers even offering Bitcoin bonuses to attract buyers.
Singapore, where crypto ownership now exceeds 24%, is also exploring stablecoin-based real estate purchases, though this is still early-stage. In Latin America, Brazil’s booming crypto adoption and growing interest in blockchain land registries could position it as a dark horse in the crypto-property race.
Crypto Wealth and Home Prices
Finally, researchers are beginning to observe what some call the “crypto wealth effect.” In 2024, U.S. counties with higher concentrations of crypto holders experienced slightly faster home price appreciation than national averages.
While the correlation isn’t proof of causation, it reflects the growing influence of digital wealth on traditional asset markets, especially real estate. As crypto becomes more widely distributed among everyday investors, it may fuel increased homebuyer activity in undervalued or emerging markets.
$1b in Deals – A Market Shift Too Big to Ignore
By 2025, cryptocurrency payments have moved from fringe novelty to a growing mainstream feature in residential real estate. Early adopters – from the first Bitcoin-home sales to tech magnates buying mansions in crypto – legitimized the idea and spurred innovators like TEKCE and Propy.
In 2024–25, the market solidified: thousands of properties now accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins, and transaction volumes (while still small compared to traditional home sales) are showing strong growth. Platforms are sprouting to handle crypto mortgages, cross-border transfers, and tokenized ownership, and regulators are developing clearer frameworks for property-related crypto activity.
Looking ahead, the market should see deeper penetration (more mid-market homes sold in crypto), broader participation (more young buyers and global investors), and tighter tech-regulatory integration (tokenized titles, on-chain financing). For the real estate industry, the key will be meeting buyers where they are: offering crypto-payment options as a complement to cash.
In short, cryptocurrency payments in homes are very much an unfolding reality. With nearly one billion dollars in deals now on the table, the next milestones will be built on this foundation.
