Real estate tokenization is projected to be one of the most significant financial phenomena for global real estate in 2026. According to data compiled by El Inmobiliario, the international market for tokenized real estate assets exceeded USD 24 billion by the end of 2025, driven by regulated platforms in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where property digitization is supported by clear legal frameworks, financial oversight, and interoperable technological systems. However, this scenario is still far from being replicated in the Dominican Republic.
Although the country has a structured real estate system and solid regulations on property titles, experts agree that tokenization requires an additional level of financial, technological, and contractual regulation that currently does not exist in the Dominican ecosystem. The absence of specific laws for so-called equity tokens, the lack of certified platforms, and the absence of an institutional blockchain culture applied to real estate limit any real-world implementation of the model.
A market that observes the trend, but lacks the conditions to execute it
Edgar Antonio García Romero, CEO and co-founder of Backsource, a company specializing in the development of computer systems for construction companies and real estate projects in the Dominican Republic, explains that interest in tokenization has already begun to appear in the sector, although in an isolated way.
“We encountered a specific case in Punta Cana in December, when a construction company raised the possibility of developing a system that would support tokenization. That's when we understood that the issue was already knocking on the door of the Dominican market,” he says.
However, García emphasizes that the country still lacks the necessary foundation to operate this model structurally. “The area where the Dominican Republic still faces challenges is in the existing regulations for equity tokens. That aspect is in its infancy. There is no clear legal framework to support fractional ownership through tokens.”
From his perspective, the main problem is not technological, but legal, since "Blockchain can record transactions, but that does not replace regulation that clearly states what it means to own a real estate token in legal terms.".
He adds that "Today in the Dominican Republic there is no system that allows a construction company to tokenize a property, legally divide the rights and manage that in a way that is fully validated by the institutions.".
Technological infrastructure and operational limitations
Although Backsource is developing a platform designed to serve as technological infrastructure for construction companies that want to digitize sales processes, contracts, and asset management, García acknowledges, “We may have the technology, but if the market isn’t ready, there’s no point in implementing it. This depends on the country having a legal framework that supports the model.”
Even the fully digital buying model remains unregulated. “Our idea is that buying a property should be as easy as buying on Amazon, but that’s only possible if there’s a legal framework that recognizes these digital processes as legally valid.”.
“Technology does not replace legal certainty”
Based on the historical experience of the sector, Bienvenido Paulino Columna, a Dominican real estate leader with more than 40 years of experience, agrees that the main risk is not technological, but institutional.
In his column "Real Estate Tokenization: Innovation with Criteria," he warns that "Blockchain technology can accurately record transactions, but it does not replace the title deed, enforceable contracts , or the Dominican legal framework." He is even more direct, stating that "A digital token, by itself, does not guarantee real property ownership if it is not backed by clear and responsible legal structures."
Innovation without improvisation
Paulino recalls that the Dominican market has already suffered the consequences of poorly structured projects: “Our market has already experienced the consequences of unfounded promises. Modernization must be built on solid foundations, not on expectations.” Finally, he offers a warning that summarizes the current discussion: “Innovation is necessary. Improvisation is not. Because the real estate sector’s greatest asset remains trust.”.
A gap between the global trend and the local reality
While in markets like Spain, the United States, and Singapore real estate tokenization is progressing under regulated schemes, with certified digital custody and financial supervision, in the Dominican Republic there is still no legal definition of what a real estate token represents, how a blockchain-based contract is executed, or how investors are protected from legal disputes.
Added to this is the arrival of the first tokenized hotel in the country
Although the widespread implementation of real estate tokenization remains a challenge, the country is preparing for a concrete milestone. In 2026, construction will begin on the first fully tokenized hotel in the Dominican Republic, the Grand ASTON Coral Golf Resort & Spa by Cáicu, located in Punta Cana. This luxury hotel project will have its assets divided into digital fractions accessible to investors of varying sizes.
This project, with an estimated investment of USD 160 million, represents a pioneering step in the region and a practical experiment in how tokenization can be applied to a high-performance tourism asset, although its success will depend on regulatory clarity and how the issuance and custody of the tokens is legally structured.
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