Top 10 Most Expensive Purchases Made with Crypto
The world of cryptocurrency can be extremely volatile, one day it’s tanking, the next it’s making millionaires. But beyond trading and investing, digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have been used to splash serious cash on everything from luxury cars to rare art and even space travel. In recent years, crypto has gone well beyond the blockchain crowd. It’s become a dead set legit way to spend and some people have gone all in. We’re talking multi-million-dollar mansions, high-end collectibles, and some downright bizarre buys, all paid for with digital coins.
Whether you’re a crypto holder yourself or just watching the market from the sidelines, it’s fascinating to see what people have done with their digital fortunes. From pizzas worth hundreds of millions today to ultra-rare diamonds, these are the wildest and most expensive purchases ever made using crypto. The team here at Joe Fortune’s Crypto Casino has brought together a rundown of the most expensive purchases made using crypto, there are some absolute rippers so let’s get this rich list rundown started…
1) Condo in Trump Tower Goes for US $21 million Ether
In 2018, crypto visionary Anthony Di Iorio paid about AUD$28 million (which was about US $21 million at the time) for a three-storey penthouse at the former Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto. He didn’t need to take out a loan, mortgage or raise funds, instead he converted some of his crypto holdings, mainly Ether, and wiring the payment direct.
This purchase stands out because it links high-end real estate with crypto, showing how digital assets are being used to buy physical, ultra-premium property. It also underlines how early crypto wealth has been channelled into “safe-asset” real world purchases.
2) 101.38-carat Diamond for US $12.3 Million Worth of BTC
The big rock crowd haven’t missed the crypto wave. A 101.38-carat diamond was sold at Sotheby’s for about US $12 million with the payment having been made in Bitcoin.
This kind of purchase shows two things: (1) crypto is being used for ultra-luxury goods beyond the abstract, and (2) the value of crypto in such transactions is enormous, often multiplied many times over as prices climb.
3) Couple of Pizzas Taken Away for 10,000 BTC
On 22nd May 2010, IT programmer Laszlo Hanyecz famously traded 10,000 BTC for just two Papa John’s pizzas. At the time that was around US $41. Fast-forward to today, and those 10,000 BTC are worth over US $1 billion, give or take depending on the current price. This remains one of the most iconic crypto purchases: it marks arguably the first real-world transaction of Bitcoin and reminds us how far crypto has come. You must wonder whether Laszlo looks back now and wonders whether it might have been better to have bought the pizzas on his credit card…
4) Plot of Land in California Grabbed for 2,739 BTC
Among the more real-estate-heavy uses of crypto was a purchase of a plot of land in California for 2,739 BTC. This kind of transaction demonstrates how crypto has made inroads into the property market beyond just headlines. Although details are a bit vaguer than some of the other bigger items on this rundown, it is a great example of the broader crypto-real-world and how it is being used to by assets and how willing sellers are to accept this new format of currency.
5) Toyota Prius Picked up for 1,000 BTC
In 2013, someone bought a used Toyota Prius with 1,000 BTC. At the time that sum equated to roughly US $22,000. Knowing Bitcoin’s value has soared since then, that purchase would now equate to tens of millions of dollars. No matter how much you rate a Prius as a vehicle that’s a pretty big chunk of change to go spending on it! This further highlights the opportunity cost nature of using crypto early for purchases instead of holding. Furthermore, it was an early example on how even modest consumer goods sometimes made history in the crypto space.
6) Mansion in Miami Purchased for 455 BTC
A luxury home in Miami was bought for 455 BTC. While the dollar equivalent at the time is smaller than some of the headline grabbing items, in crypto-terms the purchase shows the wealth being used from crypto into prime real estate markets. Although again the specifics of the details are somewhat limited, this again is an example which shows the broader trend of using crypto funds to buy a big asset such as a house.
7) Tickets into Space Flies for 312 BTC
One of the most futuristic purchases even used by crypto was to buy tickets to space. Two tickets to Virgin Galactic were purchased for about 312 BTC. This transaction shows not just luxury, but also a dreamlike experience can be bought using crypto to purchase seats on spacecraft emphasises how some buyers are prepared to use the gains in their digital assets for next-level and out of this world experiences.
8) Lamborghini Gallardo Bought for 216 BTC
In 2013, a buyer acquired a Lamborghini Gallardo in exchange for 216 BTC. The value has since ballooned thanks to Bitcoin’s growth making what may have been a modest luxury car purchase at the time now a high-profile crypto asset case study. Hopefully the owner still has the vehicle in good shape. It also leaves you wondering whether you can pay for insurance by crypto as well…
9) Tesla Model S Sells for 91.4 BTC
Also in 2013, a Tesla Model S was bought with 91.4 BTC. Again, what seemed like an early adopter purchase later looked like a crypto landmark: both a vehicle purchase and a sign of crypto’s increasing utility. At the time it probably looked like a great purchase as there was little expectation that Bitcoin would take off and become as valuable as it has today.
10) Banksy Artwork Goes for 3,093 ETH
In November 2021, two paintings by street-artist Banksy fetched a combined 3,093 ETH (that’s about US $12 million at the time) at an auction by Sotheby’s. This marked a significant milestone with a major global auction house using crypto like standard international currency. Ethereum (ETH) was accepted as payment for a physical artwork a sign of crypto’s assimilation into the traditional high-end markets.
Conclusion
These purchases cover a wide spectrum from modest consumer goods (such as cars and pizzas) to ultra-luxury real estate and art. Here are some key takeaways:
- Risk vs reward: Using crypto early to buy goods might feel savvy in the moment but it also involves opportunity cost (if the crypto value rises) and volatility.
- Status and signalling: Some purchases aren’t just about the asset, they’re statements: “I’m part of the crypto elite.”
- Mainstream crossover: When major auction houses, real-estate firms or asset sellers accept crypto, it shows digital assets are crossing into mainstream valuations.
- Timing matters: What cost tens of thousands in crypto a decade ago can amount to hundreds of millions now.
- Real-world utility: Crypto isn’t just virtual money, it’s being used for tangible assets, experiences and luxury goods.
As the world continues to evolve and crypto becomes an everyday currency that more people and businesses use, here at Joe Fortune we have designed and created the number one crypto casino in Australia. By accepting the most popular and frequently used cryptos the online casino has become very popular with Aussies up and down the land. In terms of signing up, creating an account and setting up a cryptocurrency wallet, this has become a far easier process, should you have any questions the team are on hand 24/7 to assist you. Who knows one day it might be one of our players appearing on this list because of winning a major crypto jackpot.