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One of our aims in this “Blockchain at Work” series of interviews is to demystify the technology. And to demonstrate that it has many more uses than cryptocurrency. We could ask for no better interviewee in this task than Bart de Bruijn, Co-Founder and Director of EstateX, a platform that uses blockchain technology to “democratize real estate investment”.
It’s an undoubted success story, both in terms of its community and sheer financials. It has more than 26,000 retail investors and raised nearly $3 million in presale funds, and Bart says that all rounds sold out in minutes. Add strategic partnerships with Microsoft and GDA Capital and it’s clear that big companies have belief in EstateX – and blockchain.
As you’ll see in Bart’s answer to our very first question, he can see blockchain’s use in many different industries. But it’s clear that real estate is where his heart is. “Traditionally, investing in real estate has been reserved for the wealthy or those with significant capital,” he says. “But with EstateX, anyone can start investing with as little as $100. By tokenizing real estate, we’re opening up the market, allowing everyday people, not just big investors, to build generational wealth.”
Blockchain has the potential to drive real, positive change in industries like healthcare, supply chain and public services by making systems more transparent, secure and efficient.
In healthcare, patient records can be securely stored and easily shared between hospitals without risking privacy breaches. Imagine never having to fill out the same medical history form at every doctor’s office, your data would be instantly accessible, but only to those you allow.
In the supply chain, blockchain can track products from manufacturing to delivery, preventing fraud and ensuring ethical sourcing. This means consumers can verify if their coffee is actually fair trade or if their sneakers were made in factories with fair labour conditions.
For public services, blockchain can improve voting systems, streamline government aid distribution, and even fight corruption. A blockchain-based voting system, for example, could eliminate fraud and make elections more transparent and secure.
And when it comes to financial accessibility, that’s where EstateX is making a difference. Traditionally, investing in real estate has been reserved for the wealthy or those with significant capital. But with EstateX, anyone can start investing with as little as $100. By tokenizing real estate, we’re opening up the market, allowing everyday people, not just big investors, to build generational wealth. This is about financial empowerment, giving people access to opportunities that were once out of reach.
Blockchain isn’t just about technology; it’s about creating a more fair, open, and inclusive future across industries.
Blockchain is set to disrupt industries that rely on middlemen, outdated systems, or lack transparency.
One of the biggest areas is real estate. Traditionally, investing in property has been expensive and exclusive. EstateX is changing that by enabling fractional ownership, allowing anyone to invest with as little as $100. This opens the market to more people and helps them build generational wealth.
Finance is another major industry. Blockchain makes instant, low-cost transactions possible, removing the need for banks in cross-border payments and lending.
In supply chain, blockchain ensures full transparency, allowing companies and consumers to verify product origins and ethical sourcing.
Healthcare will also see big changes, with secure, blockchain-based medical records improving data privacy and patient care.
Finally, public services like voting and identity verification can become more secure and efficient, reducing fraud and corruption.
Blockchain isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a fundamental shift in how industries operate, and companies like EstateX are leading the way in making these changes accessible to everyone.
One of the biggest misconceptions about blockchain is that it’s just about crypto—or worse, just a tool for speculation and scams. While it’s true that blockchain powers cryptocurrencies, the technology itself is much bigger than that. It can be used for everything from supply chain tracking to digital identity verification and real estate tokenization.
Another major misunderstanding is that blockchain is completely anonymous and untraceable, which is why some people associate it with illegal activities. In reality, most blockchains are public and transparent, meaning every transaction can be tracked. That’s actually why law enforcement has been able to catch criminals using blockchain, not the other way around.
Then, there’s the scam perception, which is understandable because there have been a lot of bad actors in the space, rug pulls, Ponzi schemes, and fake projects. But scams aren’t a blockchain issue; they’re a human issue that exists in every financial system. Blockchain itself doesn’t scam people, people scam people. That’s why education and due diligence are so important when getting involved in the space.
And finally, a lot of people think blockchain is too complex or only for tech experts, but the truth is, just like the internet in its early days, blockchain is becoming more user-friendly. In the next few years, people may be using blockchain-powered applications without even realizing it.
When deploying blockchain solutions, developers and companies need to think beyond just the technology, they have to consider the real-world impact on people and society.
First, transparency and trust are key. Blockchain is often praised for its transparency, but if the way it’s implemented is too complex or hidden behind technical jargon, people may struggle to trust it. Companies need to communicate clearly about how their blockchain works and what it does with user data.
Second, privacy and security are huge concerns. While blockchain can be more secure than traditional systems, it’s not immune to risks. If personal or sensitive data is stored on-chain, companies must ensure it’s protected and compliant with regulations like GDPR.
Then there’s accessibility and fairness. Blockchain has the potential to level the playing field, but if solutions are designed in a way that only tech-savvy or wealthy individuals can use them, they risk widening the gap instead of closing it. Companies should strive to make blockchain solutions inclusive and user-friendly.
Finally, environmental impact is something we can’t ignore. Proof-of-work blockchains, for example, can be energy-intensive, so companies should consider greener alternatives like proof-of-stake or layer 2 solutions that reduce the carbon footprint.
At the end of the day, blockchain should empower people, not just serve corporate interests. The most successful blockchain projects will be those that balance innovation with ethical responsibility.
Blockchain, AI, and IoT are powerful on their own, but together, they can create a more secure, automated, and efficient digital world.
AI generates vast amounts of data, but its decisions can sometimes be a “black box.” Blockchain can add transparency, ensuring AI models are trustworthy and their decisions are verifiable.
For IoT, billions of connected devices generate data every second. Blockchain can securely store and verify this data, preventing fraud, hacking, and data manipulation. Imagine self-driving cars communicating with each other using blockchain-backed data to ensure real-time, tamper-proof safety decisions.
In real estate and finance, EstateX is at the forefront of combining these technologies. AI can analyze market trends, IoT can track property conditions, and blockchain ensures all transactions and ownership records are secure and transparent.
Over time, we’ll see seamless integration, where blockchain provides trust, AI drives intelligence, and IoT connects real-world data, revolutionizing industries worldwide.
I wouldn’t say there’s any one project I truly admire, but there are definitely many that inspire me and help make EstateX even greater by learning from them.
The industry is full of innovation, from gaming projects that push the boundaries of digital ownership, to big exchanges like Binance that have mastered scalability and user adoption. Then you have L1 blockchains building the foundation for decentralized ecosystems, and, of course, RWA (Real World Asset) competitors who are helping to grow and validate the space we’re in.
I believe you should always be open to learning, whether it’s from a competitor or a completely different sector. There’s always something to take away, whether it’s a new technology, strategy, or approach to user experience. At the end of the day, that mindset is what keeps EstateX ahead and constantly evolving.
