Boating Business

Bitcoin Comes to Yacht Transactions

Bitcoin

Project Obsidian Blade, a 41m (135ft) superyacht to be built by Aegean Yacht in Bodrum, Turkey for a scheduled 2027 delivery, has been sold by Denison Yachting using crypto-currency. Denison is a generational brokerage headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, with brokers world-wide.

Denison says in a statement: “This milestone transaction, completed using crypto-currency, highlights the evolving landscape of yacht sales and modern financial solutions. Congrats to Pierre Badin, who represented the buyer.”

Badin is a broker based at Denison Yachting in Monaco.

Aegean’s Project Obsidian Blade is due for delivery in 2027.

Denison Yachting has been open to using crypto-currency for yacht sales for some time, being one of the first brokerage houses to announce they were ready to use it as a means of financing. The sale of Project Obsidian Blade is one of the first such sales to be concluded.

The Turkish build has an expedition yacht look, but also all the amenities of a cruising superyacht. It’s reportedly one of the first superyachts contracted via crypto-currency

The Turkish build has an expedition yacht look, but also all the amenities of a cruising superyacht. It’s reportedly one of the first superyachts contracted via crypto-currency.

No values related to contract or crypto valuations are known, but Denison Yachting worked with its partner Bitcashier.com on the deal. As with any such projects, the value remains confidential.

Badin comments: “The client fell in love with the design and we have worked closely with the team at Aegean to tailor her to their needs. It has been a pleasure collaborating with Aegean to bring this remarkable project to life.”

The Obsidian Blade will have a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, per the builder. Price is in excess of $15.9m USD

The Obsidian Blade will have a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, per the builder. Price is in excess of $15.9m USD.

The buyer was originally interested in a yacht based around the 37.3m (123ft) Project Tempest design, but wanted it increased by 4m. The base price for the superyacht is thought to be €14.8m ($15.9 m USD).

The name Obsidian relates to volcanic rock and the vessel design was inspired by naval ships. Project Obsidian Blade will have a steel hull and aluminum superstructure and will be able to accommodate 12 guests and six crew members.

Sinan Ozer, CEO and founder of Aegean Yacht, says: “We enjoy building smart yachts for savvy clients who know exactly what they want. We are thrilled to have signed an agreement with Denison for this 41m yacht, with delivery scheduled in time for the 2027 Mediterranean season.”

Greenline Yachts Also Enters Bitcoin Era

Greenline has offered crypto-currency sales since 2018, but the deal inked at boot Dusseldorf 2025 was the first buyer using Bitcoin

Greenline has offered crypto-currency sales since 2018, but the deal inked at boot Dusseldorf 2025 was the first buyer using Bitcoin.

Greenline Yachts has also become a crypto-currency pioneer in the marine space, after taking its first order paid entirely in the digital currency Bitcoin. The deal for a Greenline 45 Coupe was inked at boot Düsseldorf 2025, with the funds received in early February. It was an entirely positive experience, according to Greenline Yachts. 

“We have been allowing customers to pay in Bitcoin since 2018, but this is the first one to take us up on it,” said Greenline owner Vladimir Zinchenko. “We have got close a couple of times, but never cleared the final hurdle. This time it was different, and the transaction proceeded very smoothly. We would welcome future payments in crypto-currency.”

The buyer was introduced by Yacht Partners International in Greece, and he quickly reached the contract stage for the 45 Coupe. Signing at Düsseldorf allowed him to benefit from Greenline’s usual boat show offer, providing an express build slot for summer delivery the same year. It means that the lucky owner should get his hands on the yacht in June – plenty of time for enjoying a Mediterranean summer.

Although the buyer’s funds were held in Bitcoin, they arrived in Greenline’s client account in Euros. The transaction was enabled by BitPay - a US based company that provides mobile checkout services to businesses looking to accept crypto-currency.

BitPay has a European regulatory presence, which made the process of accepting the money completely barrier-free.

The Greenline 45 will have the hardtop covered in solar panels, allowing it to run all house loads without starting up a generator in most conditions

The Greenline 45 will have the hardtop covered in solar panels, allowing it to run all house loads without starting up a generator in most conditions.

"At BitPay, we believe in the transformative power of crypto-currency to revolutionize industries across the globe,” said Merrick Theobald, VP of Marketing at BitPay. “This milestone transaction with Greenline Yachts is a perfect example of how Bitcoin is reshaping the luxury goods market. By embracing crypto payments, Greenline is not just enhancing the buying experience for their customers but also embracing the future of finance. As more businesses and consumers see the value of digital currency, it’s clear that crypto-currency is here to stay — especially for high-value purchases like a luxury yacht."

Intriguingly, the buyer originally bought the Bitcoin when its value stood around $0.03 per coin, and has seen this soar to recent highs of more than $100,000. On the back of this three-million-fold growth, he has decided to set some new living quality standards – including buying the Greenline 45 Coupe.

He has selected the Coupe version of this best-selling yacht because it devotes much of the hard top to solar panels. With a maximum power rating of 2,200W, the array can generate up to 13.2kWh on a sunny day in Greece, where this new boat will be kept. It enables her to spend more than four days at anchor without having to fire up a generator, delivering a silent, emissions-free yachting experience.

This new boat will also feature an elegant office space instead of the standard third cabin. It occupies a space on the starboard side of the hull, between the two exceptional double cabins for the owner and their guests.  The solar panels will help to power high-speed internet and IT in this space, enabling the owner to stay away from port for longer.

The customized interior of the 45 will include an office in place of a 3rd stateroom

The customized interior of the 45 will include an office in place of a 3rd stateroom.

Vladimir Zinchenko added: “We’ve always looked to the future at Greenline Yachts –as much for the boats themselves as for the experience of buying and owning them. We were quick to recognize the promise of hybrid electric propulsion, large-scale solar generation and remote boat monitoring. Today, that principle has come full circle with an entirely digital transaction in Bitcoin.”