Cryptocurrency Set To Disrupt The Trillion Dollar Real Estate Industry

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Properties are listing for as little as $114,000 in Kansas and as much as $7,920,000 for a mansion in Hawaii—in Bitcoin, or its equivalent in cash (1). Real estate transactions employing Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency can be simpler, faster and safer.

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Real estate industry fast embracing cryptocurrency:

  • Realtor.com has listed 37 single-family homes accepting Bitcoin, listing at $114,000 or the Bitcoin equivalent for a home in Kansas, all the way up to a 9,500-sq.-ft. Miami mansion for $6.5 million or the equivalent in Bitcoin (1).

Though its use is hotly debated in financial circles, Kenny Hayslett, president of RE/MAX Action First in Tampa, says the most mysterious thing about Bitcoin is why it isn’t used more.

“It is simply digital money, a medium of exchange that uses cryptography to safely and securely transfer assets.” - Hayslett

BENEFITS of cryptocurrency real estate transactions:

  • The transaction can be concluded in minutes, as opposed to the traditional real estate purchase that could go on for weeks;
  • The many fees associated with traditional transactions can either be eliminated entirely or tailored to eliminate unnecessary approvals and delays;
  • Transaction fees, as with a credit card, are eliminated to ensure completion by a certain time or date.

CAVEAT: security concerns surround cryptocurrency. But Hayslett says the worry is unfounded: cryptocurrency is safer than many other methods—particularly credit cards—since no money leaves the account until the owner consents to the specific amount and personally orders the transfer.

  • In a traditional real estate purchase, much trust is put into wire transferring. Recently, a cyber-attack lawsuit was filed against a Clearwater real estate firm alleging a fraudulent wire transfer of $974,633.44 from an account belonging to a buyer (3)(4).

Bitcoin can be used to make a real estate purchase by converting it to USD, which is the more popular method, or it can be done by sending the seller actual Bitcoin as the currency of the transaction. Because of the constantly changing value of a Bitcoin, this type of purchase or exchange does carry some risk.

But real estate itself can be a tricky investment, says Hayslett. “The clear advantage of using cryptocurrency throughout the exchange is that it can increase in value and reap great rewards for the seller.”

RE/MAX Action First is one of the first real estate brokers in the Tampa Bay area to utilize and accept cryptocurrency in real estate transactions. They are also one of the first in Tampa Bay to offer credentialing for all of their agents handling transactions involving cryptocurrency.

Other questions which only the future will reveal

  • How will cryptocurrency disrupt the real estate industry?
  • Why do you think the real estate is embracing cryptocurrency?
  • Are there any concerns or risks? If so, what are they?
  • How do you see this development expanding within the real estate industry?
  • What credentialing is needed for agents to handle transactions involving cryptocurrency?
    • How can it be achieved?

  1. “These Are the Real Estate Brokerages Accepting Bitcoin.” Updater,
  2. Onibalusi, Ayodeji. “Benefits Of Using Cryptocurrency To Buy Real Estate.” HuffPost UK, HuffPost UK, 30 Nov. 2017
  3. “Are You Using the ‘Wire Fraud Prevention Notice’ Form?” Proview, 26 Feb. 2018,

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