Hundreds of wealthy cryptocurrency investors have used digital assets to purchase European real estate over the past year, bypassing traditional banking systems through stablecoin transactions. The trend reflects growing mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies in high-value luxury markets as crypto millionaires increasingly diversify their portfolios.

Shift to Euro-Denominated Stablecoins

A notable trend has emerged among European property buyers: a shift from dollar-pegged stablecoins to euro-backed alternatives to avoid conversion costs. Average transaction sizes using euro-backed stablecoins surged from €15,785 in Q3 2025 to €59,894 in Q4, as buyers increasingly favored EURC over USDC.

Lithuanian-licensed platform Brighty has facilitated over 100 real estate transactions in the past year, primarily across the UK, France, Malta, Cyprus, and Andorra, with individual deals ranging from $500,000 to $2.5 million. "Recently, we have started seeing our customers using euro stablecoins where previously they might have used USDC," said Brighty co-founder Nikolay Denisenko. "Because if you deposit in USDC and you are buying something in Europe, you have a conversion cost."

Broader Luxury Market Adoption

The European trend is part of a wider global movement toward cryptocurrency adoption in real estate. Christie's International Real Estate launched a dedicated crypto division in July 2025 following several major transactions, including a $65 million Beverly Hills property deal paid in Bitcoin.

In the Middle East, RAK Properties partnered with UAE fintech Hubpay in September 2025 to enable cryptocurrency payments for properties using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, with digital assets converted to UAE dirhams. Dubai's government-backed tokenization initiative aims to digitize $16 billion in real estate by 2033, representing approximately 7% of the city's projected property transactions.