Eric Trump Unveils Tokenized Real Estate Plans as SEC Launches ‘Project Crypto’ Initiative
Eric Trump has lifted the curtain on World Liberty Financial’s upcoming tokenized real estate project, signaling the Trump Organization’s entry into blockchain-based property investment. The move comes amid a sweeping shift in U.S. financial policy as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launches “Project Crypto,” a new initiative prioritizing tokenization and blockchain oversight.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said the project will center on “one specific building” to start, aiming to democratize access to high-end real estate by allowing investors to purchase fractional ownership through blockchain-based tokens.
“If I decided to build a hotel in Washington, D.C., or in Dubai or in New York, why do I have to go out using Deutsche Bank?” Trump said, emphasizing how blockchain could replace traditional financial intermediaries.
The announcement follows remarks by World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff at Token2049 in Singapore, where he hinted that Trump Organization assets could soon be tokenized, allowing investors to hold digital shares in landmark properties.
SEC’s “Project Crypto”: Tokenization Takes Center Stage
At DC Fintech Week on Oct. 15, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins declared that tokenization is now the agency’s “top priority” under Project Crypto — a sweeping modernization effort to simplify compliance and strengthen the U.S. regulatory framework for blockchain assets.
“We want to attract innovation back to the United States while building a framework that makes sense for the future,” Atkins said.
Project Crypto will focus on custody modernization, interoperability of digital assets, and integration between traditional finance and blockchain ecosystems. Atkins, known for his pro-innovation stance, added that he envisions an SEC that could soon be called the “Securities and Innovation Commission.”
Global Race Toward Tokenized Finance
The U.S. is not alone in its tokenization push. The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week announced new steps to support tokenized fund operations under its £14 trillion asset management industry.
Simon Walls, the FCA’s executive director of markets, said tokenization could “fundamentally change” asset management and boost transparency and efficiency for both investors and institutions.
These efforts place Britain in direct competition with the EU’s expanding digital finance framework, as governments race to establish global leadership in blockchain-enabled capital markets.
Innovation and Self-Custody at the Forefront
Atkins has also reaffirmed support for self-custody rights, calling private property “a core American value.” He has tasked SEC staff with revising outdated custody rules that were “created without crypto in mind,” to accommodate on-chain participation and decentralized ownership models.
The Project Crypto initiative further explores the development of “super-apps” — platforms that could unify traditional and digital asset management under one interface.
“I believe deeply in the right to use a self-custodial wallet,” Atkins said. “We want a future where innovation can thrive safely.”
With Eric Trump’s tokenized real estate plans aligning with Project Crypto’s national focus, the convergence of blockchain technology, real estate, and U.S. financial regulation marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital finance — one that could redefine both property ownership and capital markets in the decade ahead.