Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high‑risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Want to Buy a Famous Artwork or Giant Jewel? You Can Pay in Crypto

Art and crypto seemed to have had an easy connection from the inception of the blockchain.

In this article...

  • Art and crypto seem to have an easy alliance
  • Auction houses are increasingly accepting crypto in payment
  • Which famous artworks have price tags in crypto?
buying art with crypto bitcoin

The intersection of art and has evolved dramatically in recent years, with prestigious auction houses like leading the charge by embracing digital currencies as a payment method for physical artworks.

Since 2021, Sotheby’s has allowed buyers to pay for select artworks using and , a trend that has broadened the appeal of high-value art to a tech-savvy, crypto-rich clientele.

Sotheby’s: Pioneering crypto payments for iconic artworks

Sotheby’s made headlines in May 2021 when it became the first major auction house to accept cryptocurrency for a physical artwork. The work in question was Banksy’s .

This artwork is a stencil of a protester hurling a bouquet of flowers.

Banksy's "Love is in the Air"

When this went on sale, there was an option to pay the hammer price in BTC or ETH.

The piece, which sold for US$12.9 million, marked a turning point, proving that crypto could seamlessly integrate into the traditional art market.

As of the time of writing, March 9, 2025, Sotheby’s continues to feature auctions where .

Famous artworks sold for crypto

There are other famous artworks that have been sold where the buyer could pay in crypto. Here are some examples.

Banksy’s Trolley Hunters

In November 2021, Sotheby’s auctioned this satirical piece depicting three prehistoric hunters targeting shopping carts.

This auction accepted alongside traditional USD bids. Estimated at $5-7 million, it showcased Banksy’s biting social commentary and fetched a strong price from a crypto-paying buyer.

buy art with bitcoin

Crypto for bling: Jewels

Sotheby’s doesn’t limit crypto payments to canvas. In July 2021, they sold a 101.38-carat diamond, , for $12.3 million in cryptocurrency, setting a record for the largest crypto transaction for a physical item at auction.

Diamonds for Crypto

Sotheby’s isn’t alone in bridging the gap between crypto wealth and high art and valuables. Several galleries, auction houses, and private dealers have followed suit, catering to collectors who prefer to spend their digital fortunes on tangible masterpieces.

Christie’s: Crypto adoption and high art

Christie’s, Sotheby’s arch-rival, has also embraced cryptocurrency for artworks. In 2021, they expanded crypto payments beyond their landmark sale to include traditional artworks. A Keith Haring painting went to in London whereby the buyer could pay in crypto. The auction also featured masterpieces by Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso, and Edgar Degas.

The untitled Keith Haring work, created in 1984, captures the dawn of the digital age with its image of a computer. It carried an estimated price tag of $5.42-$6.25 million. Christie’s announced that buyers could pay the full amount, both the final bid and the buyer’s premium, using either Ether or Bitcoin.

Phillips: Crypto-friendly auctions

Phillips, another major auction house, also accepts for physical art. While initially focused on contemporary works, like Banksy pieces, they announced they would accept for lots like a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting or a mirrored sculpture.

Their 2025 auctions, particularly in New York and Hong Kong, are likely to feature crypto-eligible works.

The bigger picture: Why crypto for art

Allowing buyers to purchase famous artworks using crypto signals a shift in how wealth is accumulating. For example, the biggest donors of the 2024 US election cycle were from the .

For Sotheby’s and its competitors, it’s a strategic move to tap into the new crypto-rich demographic. And there are plenty of crypto entrepreneurs and blockchain investors who are sitting on a stash of digital assets that need a good Banksy on their wall.

Freeports

Here’s a thought. What if you wanted to diversify your wealth out of crypto because you sense a bear market looming? You could park some of your crypto wealth in art. And you could send it to a freeport to be stored.

A freeport is a secure, tax-advantaged storage facility located in a designated zone where goods like art, jewellery, wine, or gold can be stored without paying customs duties or tax, as long as they remain in the facility.

These zones operate under special economic regulations, often in international transit hubs, like Geneva and Zurich, Singapore and Luxembourg.

Wealthy collectors, dealers, and investors use freeports to park wealth via valuable artworks as part of a broader wealth-preservation playbook.

For example, the reportedly holds billions in art, from Old Masters to modern works, making it a “vault” for the ultra-rich. It operates as a legal offshore account for physical assets. Instead of cash, it’s a warehouse of Warhols and Rembrandts.

While stablecoins could theoretically be a place to park wealth in a falling crypto market, some stablecoins have proven to be , so diversification away from crypto could lead to an expensive artwork in a freeport.

Challenges: Crypto and art

Challenges remain. Crypto’s volatility can complicate pricing while trying to buy a famous painting or sculpture. For example, while bidding on a Matisse, ETH could drop 10% mid-auction.

Still, if you have enough crypto to buy a Matisse in the first place, do you even care?

For collectors who genuinely love art, it’s a thrilling time. It is the chance to own a piece of history, paid for with the currency of the future. Next time you see a for crypto, we can certainly have fun guessing who it was that bought it.

Nicole Buckler crypto culture journalist
Nicole BucklerNicole Buckler has been a crypto culture journalist for multiple leading publications for several years. She first bought Bitcoin in 2013, not really knowing what she was doing at the time. Since then she has learned how to handle a coin or two. Got a comment? Nicole.Buckler@CoinJar.com

Suggested Articles

Bitcoin

What is Bitcoin (BTC)? What is "Digital Gold" Used For?

What is Bitcoin? It is a digital currency that can be traded, exchanged, and used as a form of payment independent of central banks and governments.
Crypto

What is Ethereum? What is ETH Used For?

Ethereum is a decentralised blockchain-based open-source software platform that allows for the development of decentralised applications (dApps).
Crypto

What Is Crypto? How do Cryptocurrencies Work?

Crypto has become incredibly popular. But how does this digital currency work? And are there cryptos other than Bitcoin?

Browse by topic

Standard Risk Warning The above article is not to be read as investment, legal or tax advice and it takes no account of particular personal or market circumstances;

UK residents are required to complete an assessment to show they understand the risks associated with what crypto/investment they are about to buy, in accordance with local legislation. Additionally, they must wait for a 24-hour “cooling off” period, befo

Standard Risk Warning  In the UK, it’s legal to buy, hold, and trade crypto, however cryptocurrency is not regulated in the UK. It's vital to understand that once your money is in the crypto ecosystem, there are no rules to protect it, unlike with regular

Important Note for UK Residents: If you come across this article, remember that cryptocurrency investment is high-risk. Be prepared to lose your entire investment. No protection is guaranteed if things go wrong.  Remember, this article does not constitute

CoinJar
Company
Support
Legal
Crypto on CoinJar
App storeApp store

Your information is handled in accordance with CoinJar’s .

Cryptoassets traded on CoinJar UK Limited are largely unregulated in the UK, and you are unable to access the Financial Service Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We use third party banking, safekeeping and payment providers, and the failure of any of these providers could also lead to a loss of your assets. We recommend you obtain financial advice before making a decision to use your credit card to purchase cryptoassets or to invest in cryptoassets. Capital Gains Tax may be payable on profits.

CoinJar’s digital currency exchange services are operated in the UK by CoinJar UK Limited (company number 8905988), registered by the Financial Conduct Authority as a Cryptoasset Exchange Provider and Custodian Wallet Provider in the United Kingdom under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, as amended (Firm Reference No. 928767).

Apple Pay and Apple Watch are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the and apply.

CoinJar logo
CoinJarGet the app.
Install app