Let’s face it: crypto has been a buzzword for over a decade, but in real estate, it’s still treated like a novelty—or worse, a liability. Many agents assume that buyers using crypto are either scammers, high-risk, or just plain confusing to work with. But here’s what’s actually true: real estate transactions involving crypto are not only happening—they’re increasing in frequency, size, and legitimacy.
Consider 12% of first-time home buyers sold cryptocurrency to help fund their down payment in the last crypto cycle, according to a survey conducted by Redfin. That number is expected to grow in the next few years. These are real people, buying real property, and they’re looking for agents who can help them close deals, not slam doors.
If you’ve been tuning out the crypto conversation, you may be tuning out your next client.
Who Are Crypto Buyers?
There’s a persistent myth that crypto buyers are fringe speculators, or “crypto bros” with no real purchasing power. In reality, crypto buyers are increasingly diverse and well-positioned. They include:
- Early adopters who bought Bitcoin or Ethereum years ago and now want to invest in tangible assets like real estate.
- Professionals in blockchain and Web3 who earn a portion, or all, of their income in crypto.
- First-time home buyers who chose digital assets instead of traditional savings accounts.
- High-net-worth investors who view real estate as a hedge against volatility.
These are clients with the intent, resources, and urgency to purchase. The missing piece is often a real estate professional who’s willing to guide them through the process instead of disqualifying them from the start.
What Kind of Crypto Actually Works for Real Estate?
Let’s be clear: Not all cryptocurrencies are viable for a real estate purchase. A buyer showing up with a meme coin you’ve never heard of probably isn’t ready to transact.
But when a buyer holds mainstream, high-liquidity coins like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), or stablecoins like USDC or USDT, those can absolutely be used to fund real estate purchases. In some cases, even Dogecoin (DOGE) is workable, depending on the transaction and the partners involved.
The key is liquidity, verification, and legitimate on-chain activity. If a buyer can’t produce a wallet address, verify ownership, or show transaction history, the deal should stop there.
Do Sellers Have to Accept Crypto?
No. This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about crypto transactions. Sellers are not required to accept cryptocurrency directly—and most don’t. Buyers also don’t need to cash out ahead of time. The digital assets can be held and, if needed, converted during the escrow process—without disrupting the standard mechanics of a real estate transaction.
This means agents can accommodate crypto buyers without asking sellers to take on unfamiliar risks. The buyer brings the assets, and a network of trusted partners handles the rest. That includes crypto-friendly escrow providers who are equipped to receive, hold, and convert digital assets securely, and who know how to coordinate with title companies to ensure everything proceeds by the book.
It also includes KYC (Know Your Customer) providers like Onfido, Jumio or Persona, which are commonly used across fintech and crypto to verify identities, confirm wallet ownership, and screen for compliance issues. While traditional real estate often waits until escrow to verify a buyer’s identity and funds, crypto transactions front-load that process, ensuring legitimacy from day one.
Together, these systems allow crypto-backed deals to close cleanly and securely. The seller still gets paid in U.S. dollars, and the buyer gets to use their digital assets with minimal friction. Flexibility is already built into the system—you just need to understand how it works, and who to work with.
This Isn’t New: We’ve Been Doing This Since 2016
Crypto in real estate is nearly a decade old. We’ve been handling these transactions since 2016, working with reputable escrow and title partners to ensure that every deal is safe, compliant, and smooth.
Here’s what you should expect in a legit crypto deal:
- Wallets can be verified for ownership and activity.
- Funds can be traced and documented.
- KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) procedures are standard practice.
- Conversion to fiat (government-backed currency such as USD) can happen securely during escrow.
In short: This is a proven, regulated transaction model, backed by real estate, legal, and financial professionals who know how to do it right.
Early Vetting for Smoother Transactions
In traditional real estate, most of the heavy lifting on verification happens during escrow. You collect ID, verify funds, sign disclosures, and move toward closing. With crypto, the process is the same in principle, but some of the vetting just happens earlier.
This is a good thing. It protects your time and reputation. Front-end vetting helps you avoid wasted showings, fraudulent offers, and last-minute surprises.
For crypto buyers, we conduct due diligence on the wallet, transaction history, and liquidity before the offer is even made. If they’re not willing to participate in that process, that’s a red flag, and it keeps you from investing energy into a deal that won’t close.
How to Spot a Crypto Scam
Most crypto buyers you’ll encounter are legitimate. But just like in traditional transactions, a few bad actors can muddy the waters. Here are some of the warning signs to look for:
- The buyer won’t verify wallet ownership or claims they “lost the keys.”
- They can’t or won’t explain how they acquired their assets.
- They insist on using an obscure exchange or untraceable platform.
- They refuse to work with standard escrow or title companies, pushing for peer-to-peer arrangements.
- They pressure you to skip documentation or move quickly without a paper trail.
These are not necessarily crypto issues. These are all transparency issues, and they would raise concerns in any deal.
Crypto Is a Revenue Stream, Not a Risk
If you’re still unsure whether to take on crypto clients, think of it this way: this isn’t about hype. It’s about meeting buyers where they are, and creating another stream of commission income.
Crypto buyers are already in the market. They’re actively looking for agents who won’t flinch at the idea of a digital wallet. If that agent isn’t you, it’s going to be someone else. They’re already closing. And if you’re not at least conversant in the basics, you’re quietly turning away business, without even realizing it.
Be Willing to Adapt
You don’t need to be a blockchain expert. You don’t need to become a crypto trader. You don’t need to code.
But in the same way you’ve adapted to online signatures, wire fraud protocols, and social media marketing, you’ll need to adapt to a world where your next buyer might be holding their down payment in a crypto wallet instead of a checking account.
Crypto in real estate is already here. And agents who take the time to learn the fundamentals will have a major edge in the market, not just with crypto clients, but with the next generation of home buyers who are already thinking differently about money.
Author
Piper Moretti is the Founder and CEO of The Crypto Realty Group, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in conducting real estate transactions with cryptocurrency. In 2017, Piper completed one of the first Bitcoin transactions on record, and since then has had over $32MM in crypto listings. She was an appointed member of NAR’s Cryptocurrency Presidential Advisory Group in 2022, and teaches her Crypto x Real Estate course to brokerages and real estate professionals throughout the country.
