The idea of paying for a house in Bitcoin or paying for the purchase of an apartment with Ethereum still seemed futuristic a few years ago. Today, France is taking a concrete step towards this reality thanks to the innovation of Banque Delubac and its Delukey solution.
This system allows a buyer to pay for a property directly in cryptocurrency, without mandatory conversion into euros, while respecting the traditional legal process: sales agreement, notarial signature, and acquisition fees.
How does buying real estate with crypto work?
The mechanism relies on a secure escrow wallet, controlled in partnership with notaries. When finalising the transaction, the seller can choose to receive payment:
- entirely in euros,
- entirely in cryptocurrencies,
- or a combination of both.
This flexibility is a major asset for democratising crypto real estate in France.
Securing the transaction: volatility and stablecoins
The volatility of the crypto market is one of the biggest challenges. To protect buyers and sellers, several safeguards are in place:
- deposit of funds in crypto a few days before signing,
- a 10-15% safety margin in case of price fluctuations,
- use of stablecoins (USDT, USDC, DAI) to lock in value,
- strengthened KYC procedures and anti-money laundering controls.
A first test real estate transaction is already underway, for a property under 1 million euros, paid for partially in Ethereum and euros.
Benefits for buyers and sellers
For crypto buyers:
- Use their digital assets directly to purchase a home.
- Avoid conversion into fiat currency.
- Eventually, benefit from new solutions such as cryptocurrency-backed mortgages.
For sellers:
- Freedom to choose the receiving currency.
- Access to a new crypto-investor clientele.
- Ability to diversify their assets with a portion of digital assets.
Challenges to address: taxation and regulation
Despite its potential, blockchain real estate in France remains subject to several constraints:
- Taxation on capital gains from the sale of cryptocurrencies can increase the final cost.
- The volatility of cryptocurrencies remains a source of uncertainty.
- The legal framework is not yet fully clarified, which limits the widespread adoption of these practices.
Conclusion: The future of crypto real estate in France
Buying a house in France with Bitcoin or paying for an apartment with Ethereum are no longer science fiction. Thanks to innovative initiatives, the real estate market is beginning to integrate cryptocurrencies as a credible payment alternative.
If regulations are adapted and taxation is clarified, real estate investment in cryptocurrencies could attract more and more buyers and sellers.
The future of French real estate could well be written on the blockchain.
