Old Stone Church Real Estate Tokenization
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Religious and charitable organisations · Organisation: One Hope of Colorado in Partnerschaft mit REtokens und Polymesh · Maturity level: Production
One Hope of Colorado is tokenizing a historic church by dividing the building value into digital tokens on the Polymesh blockchain. The 11,457 square foot building is being financed through token issuance worth 2.5 million USD, with accredited investors able to invest starting from 2,500 USD. The project launched in August 2024 with a planned three-year acquisition period until 2027.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
Church buildings in the USA represent an immense real estate value (estimated at 300-500 billion USD) that is inaccessible to traditional investors. Blockchain tokenisation opens new financing avenues: congregations can issue security tokens representing ownership shares in church buildings.
The concept of church property tokenisation combines three trends: (1) Real Estate Tokenisation makes property investments fractionally accessible. (2) Community Finance gives congregation members direct participation in shared assets. (3) Non-Profit Finance creates an alternative to church loans. Polymesh (launched in 2021 by Polymath Network, a blockchain specifically for security tokens) offers a regulated infrastructure with built-in identity management, GDPR compliance, and automatic compliance. REtokens is a US platform for real estate security tokens. One Hope of Colorado, a church network, explored tokenised church structures as a model for shared property ownership by church communities. The concept enables: financing renovations without bank loans, involving congregation members as investors, and fairly distributing shares in future church mergers or dissolutions.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Church congregations can issue ownership shares in their buildings via security token platforms like Polymesh to finance renovations or expansions — compliant with regulations, transparent, and without traditional bank financing.
B2C — consumers perspective
Private investors have the opportunity to invest in real estate projects with small amounts while simultaneously supporting charitable causes. Blockchain technology enables full transparency and easy tradability of the shares.
Employees perspective
Employees in non-profit organisations must engage with new technologies and regulatory requirements. The work becomes more technical and investor-oriented but also requires continuous communication about project progress and token performance.
Benefits
General
- Tokenisation enables large real estate projects to be financed by many small investors, thus democratising access to property investments.
- Blockchain technology offers full transparency over the use of funds and automated management of ownership shares.
- Non-profit organisations gain access to new funding sources beyond traditional donations and loans.
B2B — organisations
- Organisations can realise real estate projects that would not be feasible with conventional financing methods, while addressing a broader investor base.
Employees
- Fundraising staff expand their skills with modern financing technologies and can implement innovative projects with higher chances of success.
Challenges
General
- Regulatory requirements for token issuance are complex and require specialised legal advice as well as compliance with securities laws.
- Technical implementation requires expertise in blockchain technology and integration with existing financial systems.
B2B — organisations
- Organisations must invest in technical infrastructure and compliance, which involves additional costs and risks.
Employees
- Staff need training in blockchain technology and must engage with new regulatory requirements.
Technology foundation
The project uses the Polymesh blockchain, a blockchain platform specifically developed for regulated financial instruments. The REtokens platform handles the technical implementation of real estate tokenisation and enables the division of ownership into tradable digital shares.
Implementation examples
Old Stone Church Tokenisation Colorado
One Hope of Colorado needed an innovative financing solution to acquire the historic property, as traditional donations and loans were insufficient. Tokenisation enables reaching a broader investor base while ensuring transparency in the use of funds.
One Hope of Colorado is tokenising a historic church valued at USD 2.5 million via the Polymesh blockchain. The project allows investments from USD 2,500 and runs over a three-year period.
The church network One Hope of Colorado launched the tokenisation of the historic Old Stone Church in August 2024. The 11,457 square foot building is financed through digital tokens on the Polymesh blockchain, with accredited investors able to invest from USD 2,500. The REtokens platform handles the technical implementation, while the Polymesh Association provides the blockchain infrastructure. After one year, the tokens can be traded on the secondary market.
The project addresses the problem of limited financing options for charitable real estate projects while creating new investment opportunities for the local community. Blockchain technology ensures full transparency and automated management.
Tags
Real Estate Tokenisation, Crowdfunding, Non-Profit Financing, Polymesh, REtokens