Africa’s Real Estate Revolution: How Tokenization is Reshaping Property Investment

For decades, real estate investment in Africa has been the playground of deep-pocketed investors, corporations, and institutions. The barriers to entry have been steep—requiring substantial capital, bureaucratic navigation, and long waiting periods.

But the landscape is shifting dramatically, thanks to real estate tokenization, a blockchain-driven solution that is democratizing access to property investment across the continent.

A recent Chaintum Research report, State of Real Estate Tokenization in Africa 2025, highlights how fractionalized real estate (FRE) is gaining traction, with institutional investors, governments, and fintech startups beginning to embrace tokenized property markets.

With the real estate tokenization market projected to grow at an impressive 21% CAGR, from $3.5 billion in 2024 to $19.4 billion by 2033, Africa stands on the cusp of an investment revolution.

Although North America holds the largest market share, countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Indonesia and Japan, demonstrate the greatest potential for significant market growth during the forecast period, as illustrated in Graph 1.

Graph 1

Fractional Ownership: A Game Changer

Tokenization breaks down traditional property ownership into digital shares, allowing investors to own fractions of high-value real estate assets. This innovation eliminates the massive capital required to buy entire properties, making real estate investment more accessible to Africa’s growing middle class and global investors.

Kenya’s ambitious Konza Technopolis project is a perfect example of how tokenization can create inclusive investment opportunities. With a budget of over $1.5 billion, the smart city aims to be a hub for technology and sustainable development.

Traditionally, such projects have been reserved for major investors, but through platforms like RedSwan  and AlphabloQ, fractional ownership is turning large-scale real estate into bite-sized, tradable assets.

Increased Liquidity in Real Estate Markets

One of real estate’s biggest drawbacks has always been its illiquidity—turning property into cash is often a slow and complex process. Layer 2 and Layer 3 blockchains, such as Lightning Network, Polygon, and Arbitrum, enable the African population to engage with tokenized assets at lower costs, with faster transactions and minimal infrastructure needs, fostering greater inclusion in digital economies.

In Nigeria, Seso Global has developed a private blockchain to streamline property transactions by securely recording land titles. The company is also exploring the Cardano blockchain to enhance asset liquidity for international investors.

Institutional Adoption and Regulatory Sandboxes

The success of real estate tokenization depends on regulatory clarity and institutional adoption. Encouragingly, African financial regulators are warming up to digital assets. The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) and Empowa are pioneering efforts to tokenize affordable housing, targeting Africa’s informal workforce—the “hustle economy.”

Regulatory sandboxes in markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are fostering innovation while ensuring compliance. Nigeria’s eNaira digital currency and the SEC’s digital asset framework, introduced in 2020, provide a strong foundation for real estate tokenization.

Busting the Myths: Tokenization is for Africa, Too

Skeptics have argued that Africa lacks the infrastructure to support real estate tokenization, but the data suggests otherwise. Smartphone penetration across the continent is expected to reach 200.8 million units by 2029, enabling seamless access to digital property investment platforms.

Additionally, fears that tokenized real estate is too risky are being debunked by compliant platforms like RedSwan CRE, which have established robust frameworks for transparency and security. Governments and private sector players are also increasingly supporting tokenized property markets, ensuring that this innovation is not just a fleeting trend but a lasting transformation.

The Future: A Tokenized Real Estate Boom?

Africa is already experiencing a Dubai-style real estate boom, and tokenization could accelerate this growth by opening up new investment avenues. The ability to invest in residential, commercial, and municipal real estate without massive capital outlays is a game-changer, unlocking economic opportunities for millions.

As blockchain-driven real estate markets mature, they will attract more institutional capital, leading to even greater adoption. Whether you’re a small-scale investor looking to own a piece of Africa’s future or a global player seeking high-growth opportunities, real estate tokenization is reshaping the continent’s property sector.

The question is no longer “if” but “how fast” Africa will embrace this transformation. And judging by the momentum, the future of real estate on the continent is undeniably on-chain. Read Full Report: State of Real Estate Tokenization in Africa