The intersection of real estate and digital finance is growing in Canada. While traditional transactions still dominate, a growing number of buyers and sellers are exploring the use of cryptocurrency to fund or even directly purchase property.

Technically, it is possible to buy real estate in Canada using cryptocurrency, but the process is complex and depends heavily on the seller’s willingness and the legal structure of the deal.

In most cases, the crypto asset (such as Bitcoin or Ethereum) is converted to Canadian dollars before the transaction is finalized. This is often done through an exchange or intermediary to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-client (KYC) regulations. Some real estate lawyers and brokerages in major cities now have experience handling such deals.

One growing trend is the use of digital assets as collateral for property loans or mortgage substitutes. Crypto-backed loans, while still niche in Canada, are being explored by some private lenders and fintech firms. However, volatility in digital currencies remains a major barrier to their broader adoption in lending.

From a legal standpoint, taxes apply the same way as in fiat transactions. Selling cryptocurrency to buy real estate may trigger a capital gains tax event, and documentation must be provided for CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) purposes.

While you cannot yet walk into a bank and get a mortgage in Bitcoin, the crypto-to-property path is opening up — especially in luxury segments and private sales. As digital assets become more mainstream, real estate transactions involving them are likely to grow, but always require strong legal oversight.