In a move that could redefine how local governments manage real estate records, Bergen County has announced the nation’s largest blockchain-based deed tokenization initiative to date.
Through a five-year agreement with tech firm Balcony, the Bergen County Clerk’s Office will digitize and bring approximately 370,000 property deeds, representing an estimated $240 billion in real estate value, onto the blockchain. It’s a first-of-its-kind project by a top-50 U.S. county, and the largest of its kind in the country.
“This is a turning point for real estate and public record systems,” said Dan Silverman, CEO of
Balcony. “By working with the Bergen County Clerk’s Office to bring all property records on-
chain, we’re demonstrating how secure, distributed systems can replace outdated infrastructure
and deliver real-world value for both governments and the public.”
High-Speed, Tamper-Proof, Searchable
The platform, powered by Avalanche’s high-speed blockchain network, will create a tamper-proof, fully searchable digital chain of title across all 70 municipalities in Bergen County.
Officials say the new system will cut deed processing times by over 90%, while reducing fraud, title disputes, and costly administrative errors.
County Clerk John Hogan said the goal is to improve daily life for residents and businesses by simplifying property transfers and improving transparency.
“By digitizing property records, we’re making the process simpler, faster, and more secure,” Hogan said. “This is about ensuring Bergen County remains a leader in innovation and public service.”
Concerns Over Data Security
The effort comes amid growing concerns about data security. In 2024, more than 70% of ransomware attacks targeting state and local governments demanded payments exceeding $1 million. The move to blockchain technology aims to reduce those risks by creating immutable, decentralized digital records.
Beyond Bergen County, Balcony is already working with several other New Jersey municipalities on similar blockchain projects, including Camden, Morristown, Cliffside Park, Fort Lee, and Orange. In Orange, officials discovered nearly $1 million in previously unaccounted-for municipal revenue by digitizing outdated records.
In total, Balcony is now helping bring over 460,000 properties and $290 billion in real estate value on-chain across the state.
“Property records form the foundation of trust between governments and the communities they serve,” said Gregg Lester, President of Balcony. “Modernizing these systems is about more than efficiency—it’s about building transparency, protecting data, and unlocking smarter decisions.”
The initiative positions Bergen County as a national model for next-generation public recordkeeping, and could inspire other counties and states to follow suit as interest in blockchain-powered government services grows.
For more information about Balcony and its work with public sector agencies, visit balcony.io.
