They Turned Down 50,000 Bitcoin in 2015. Now, It’d Be Worth $4.5 Billion.

“You sent us an offer in Bitcoin?!” 

If only they’d accepted…

Today, Bitcoin hit a record-breaking $93,000 before sliding slightly back down to $89,000. And for those who’ve been in real estate long enough, it brings up one epic “what if”—that time in 2015 when Ryan Serhant’s client put in an offer of 50,000 Bitcoin for a $14 million apartment. 

Let’s just say the seller’s agent was not exactly thrilled. 

9 years ago, someone tried use 50,000 Bitcoin to buy a $14 million apartment.

Today, 50,000 Bitcoin are worth $4.5 billion. pic.twitter.com/4sM93cO6fA

— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) November 12, 2024

The Bitcoin Offer That Could Have Changed Everything

At the time, Bitcoin was trading around $260 per coin, making that offer just over $13 million in value—and about a million short of the asking price. And in 2015, crypto was still an unknown; it was new, risky, and mostly considered a speculative play. Declining an offer in Bitcoin felt like the reasonable thing to do.

But fast forward to today’s record-breaking price, and those 50,000 Bitcoin would now be worth $4.45 billion. Yes, billion. Imagine turning down billions over a difference of $1 million back then. 

It’s one of those “what ifs” that will be talked about for years—a reminder that sometimes, the craziest offers are the ones that make history.