Housies and sharesies: When crypto and blockchain meet real estate

Bayleys hosted a seminar on the future of real estate tokenisation in NZ. (Image: Fiona Goodall)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025

The City of Detroit has just filed the largest nuisance abatement lawsuit in its history, against a Florida outfit linked to a network of cryptocurrency real estate companies controlling more than 400 rundown, unsanitary, and downright dangerous buildings in its area.Many are rental properties in low-income neighbourhoods and are owned by often foreign investors who bought a fractional ownership in the real estate, generally through cryptocurrency.The suit lists 53 separate properties considered “unquestionably harmful to the health, safe...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

On the Money

On The Money: Anna Breman. Adrian Orr, and more

A moody week worthy of a Scandi-noir thriller involving plenty of bankers.

Dileepa Fonseka 27 Sep 2025

Opinion

Simon Robertson: Investing: What Wall St is banking on

Investors eye an upbeat finish as big tech and AI drive market growth.

Simon Robertson 27 Sep 2025

Technology

Trump saved TikTok – and wrecked the rule of law

TikTok users will be happy, but this is another blow to the rule of law.

The Washington Post 27 Sep 2025

Trump saved TikTok – and wrecked the rule of law

Sponsored

AI agents: opportunity or graveyard? Spark’s five-point playbook for success

Artificial intelligence agents – autonomous digital entities that analyse data, automate decisions, and act independently – are set to drive a new wave of business transformation.

Spark Enterprise

Sponsored