Crypto is no longer confined to trading platforms or Reddit threads. Renters in Annapolis have started asking landlords whether paying in Bitcoin is even an option. Most still expect the usual—bank transfers, debit orders, cash—but the question is surfacing more often than it used to.

Bitcoin has already found footing in a wide mix of industries. It’s accepted on e-commerce sites, used to book flights and hotel rooms, and increasingly common in online gaming. Some platforms go beyond Bitcoin. Several coins now in circulation are being adopted across sectors because they offer more than just store-of-value appeal.

According to crypto analyst Tony Frank, some of the best crypto to invest in come with staking rewards that actually yield returns, while others stand out for low fees and seamless DeFi integrations. That’s allowed alternative coins to enter spaces where payment speed and flexibility matter more than brand name recognition.

In real estate, things move differently. Local lease agreements are still tied to the dollar, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. That doesn’t mean landlords can’t accept crypto—it just means both parties need to be clear on what’s being agreed to.

If the rent is supposed to be $1,750 a month, and that number is written into the lease, paying the equivalent in Bitcoin could be fine if the landlord agrees. Without that clarity, though, it opens the door to misunderstandings no one wants to deal with mid-lease.

There’s also the question of risk. Unlike fiat, crypto values move constantly. If a tenant sends what equals the right amount on Monday but the coin loses 12% by Wednesday, the landlord is left with a gap. On the flip side, if it gains 12%, the tenant may feel like they’ve overpaid. Without a fixed conversion method or timestamp, it’s easy for things to become vague. Most landlords don’t want to leave payments to market movements.

Taxes complicate things further. The IRS treats crypto as property, not currency. That means rent paid in Bitcoin isn’t just rental income—it’s a barter transaction. Landlords have to log the fair market value at the time of payment, and later track gains or losses if they convert it to cash. For someone renting out a spare apartment or managing a handful of properties, that extra paperwork often isn’t worth the hassle.

Some have found ways around the volatility crypto inherently has. A few property owners are using third-party services that accept crypto from the tenant and convert it immediately to dollars. This keeps everything stable while giving the tenant the option to pay in digital assets. The landlord gets a bank deposit as usual, and the platform handles the rest. It’s a smoother option, but adoption locally has been slow. Most landlords just haven’t needed to look into it.

Among renters, the interest is more active. Some are paid in crypto and already use it for groceries, rideshares, or subscriptions. If they can handle smaller bills in Bitcoin, they want to know why rent should be treated differently. A few are even offering slightly more than the asking price if the landlord accepts payment in crypto, just to make it easier to use funds that are already sitting in their wallets.

The answer, for now, depends on the person. There’s no Maryland law stopping landlords from accepting crypto, but unless both sides agree in writing, it’s not something that can be done on a handshake. That leaves it up to individuals. Some landlords will say yes if the numbers line up and the process is simple. Others want nothing to do with it.

There’s also a generational divide that’s hard to ignore. Landlords under 40, especially those already in tech or who invest in crypto themselves, tend to be more open. They’re more comfortable moving between asset types and navigating tax rules. Older landlords or property management companies, by contrast, usually prefer what they know works.

Crypto in rent isn’t common in Annapolis yet, but it’s no longer an absurd idea. The infrastructure exists. The coins are being used in other industries. Some tenants are already spending them on everything else, so it makes sense they’d ask about rent next.