Ray Sturm is the co-founder of RealtyShares, a company that allows accredited investors to crowdfund real estate transactions. The company is also one of the first in the real estate space to accept bitcoin as a currency for purchases.

Bitcoin is a virtual “cryptocurrency” that has its own valuation and exchanges. Tech pundits have debated the value of bitcoin, with some calling it a revolution in monetary exchange, while others have questioned its legitimacy and potential for widescale adoption.