Share this article
Sotheby’s to Accept Crypto for Rare 100-Carat Diamond in Upcoming Auction
“The most ancient and emblematic denominator of value can now, for the first time, be purchased using humanity’s newest universal currency.”
Updated May 9, 2023, 3:20 a.m. Published Jun 21, 2021, 3:40 p.m.
Sotheby’s accepting crypto for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) was just a trial run.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The 277-year-old British auction house will be accepting bitcoin and ether for a rare 101.38-carat diamond that could fetch over $15 million at auction.
The auction house said the exceptionally rare rock will be sold in an upcoming single-lot sale to be held in Hong Kong on July 9. The acceptance of cryptocurrency as a supported payment option is a first.
Should it be bought with crypto, the transaction will be processed by Coinbase Commerce, Sotheby’s said.
“This is a truly symbolic moment. The most ancient and emblematic denominator of value can now, for the first time, be purchased using humanity’s newest universal currency,” said Patti Wong, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia.
Read more: Sotheby’s Opens Virtual Replica of Its London Galleries in Decentraland
Sotheby’s said 100-carat diamonds have achieved a “mythical status” and the pear-shaped cut echoes that of the “Cullinan I” currently residing in the Tower of London and mounted in the Imperial Sceptre of Great Britain.
Rare diamonds and their perceived value are due to canny marketing that, in the mid-20th century, created the almost universal expectation in Western countries that an engagement had to be marked by a diamond ring as a symbol of an eternal commitment, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The Pink Star holds the record for the most expensive diamond ever sold, fetching an eye-popping $71 million at a Sotheby's auction in April 2017. The 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue sold for $50.6 million in a Christie's auction in May 2016. More recently, in 2020, a 14.83-carat diamond was sold by Sotheby's for $26.6 million.
In May, Sotheby’s announced it had started accepting cryptocurrency as payment for artworks. It also delved into the NFT market, facilitating the sale of works by the artist Pak for $16.8 million in April.
Correction (July 2, 15:59 UTC): The Pink Star holds the record for the most expensive diamond ever sold, not the Oppenheimer Blue. We regret the error.
More For You
What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
More For You
Visa brings Circle's USDC settlement to U.S. banks following $3.5 billion stablecoin pilot
Initial participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which are settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain.
What to know:
- U.S. banks and fintechs can now settle Visa obligations in Circle's USDC, starting on the Solana blockchain.
- Early participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, with broader rollout planned through 2026.
- Visa will also support Circle’s Arc blockchain and run a validator, extending its stablecoin infrastructure bet.
Top Stories
