Blockchain and Web3 technologies are emerging as transformative forces in global real estate, driving innovation, efficiency, and new investment models across markets, according to experts at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Global Business Forum held in Marseille.
Speaking at the Real Estate Investment in Global Trade Hubs session, Lia Rochat, CEO of France-based Archismart Solar, emphasized the importance of adopting decentralized technologies to stay competitive.
“Blockchain and Web3 will drive decentralised, transparent, and faster interactions without reliance on traditional intermediaries like banks or brokers,” she said.
Web3, often described as the next evolution of the internet, leverages blockchain to enhance transparency and user control.
A key application in real estate is the tokenisation of physical assets, enabling fractional ownership and peer-to-peer trading through blockchain platforms.
Dubai has already made strides in this direction. Diego Cortese of Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) highlighted partnerships with the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority and Dubai Land Department to oversee tokenised property transactions.
Singapore, too, is taking a leadership role. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has laid the regulatory groundwork for digital tokens and, in 2024, piloted a live wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) for interbank settlement.
In a landmark case, blockchain startup CitaDAO successfully tokenised a commercial property in Midview City, valued at $635,000.
CBRE’s 2025 outlook notes that Singapore’s real estate market remains resilient, with transaction volumes projected to rise 10%, driven by residential, logistics, and data center demand.
The adoption of blockchain is expected to improve transaction efficiency and attract new forms of capital.
Jacopo Dettoni of fDi Intelligence said artificial intelligence will also play a growing role, reshaping real estate operations and investment focus. “The next wave is going to come from AI – quickly,” he said.
Held April 6–9 and themed “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” the WTCA forum drew over 400 participants from 50 countries.
Discussions at the Real Estate Summit covered sustainable infrastructure, shifting foreign direct investment trends, and growth sectors such as life sciences, logistics, and decentralized data centers.