The Bergen County Clerk’s Office has signed an agreement with blockchain-based land record management firm Balcony to digitize 370, 000 property deeds, representing approximately $240 billion in real estate value. This landmark initiative marks the largest blockchain deed tokenization project in the United States. Bergen County’s adoption of blockchain technology for deed tokenization is a pioneering move for a major US county and will establish a new benchmark for other states, counties, and cities. Upon completion, Bergen County will possess a fully digitized, searchable chain of title across all 70 of its municipalities. Balcony’s platform, powered by the Avalanche blockchain network, will greatly speed up deed processing while reducing the risks of fraud, clerical mistakes, and title disputes. Additionally, it will offer robust protection against hacking and ransomware attacks. “This represents a turning point for real estate and public record management, ” stated Dan Silverman, CEO of Balcony. “By partnering with the Bergen County Clerk’s Office to bring all property records onto the blockchain, we are showcasing how secure, distributed systems can replace outdated infrastructure and provide tangible benefits for both governments and the public. ” The Bergen County collaboration is a significant advancement in Balcony’s efforts to modernize government real estate systems throughout New Jersey.

Balcony is currently working with other cities and towns across the state, including Orange, Camden, Morristown, Fort Lee, and Cliffside Park. In Orange, Balcony uncovered nearly $1, 000, 000 in city revenue that would have gone unrecovered due to outdated and inadequate record keeping. The overarching goal is to enhance transparency, efficiency, and public trust in official records. “This initiative is focused on improving the lives of our residents, ” said John Hogan, County Clerk of Bergen County. “By digitizing property records, we are making the process simpler, faster, and more secure for homeowners, businesses, and future generations. We aim to leverage this innovative approach to boost transparency, cut down delays, and safeguard against cyber threats. ”