Bergen County’s move to digitize 370,000 property deeds across all 70 of its municipalities is now the largest blockchain land records project in the country. The system is designed to reduce fraud, prevent ransomware attacks, and cut processing times by more than 90 percent. It is a major step toward bringing public infrastructure into the digital age, and it shows what is possible when local governments take the lead on technology.
Counties and municipalities across New Jersey have opportunities to use blockchain to improve how they manage and deliver essential services. Residents depend on accurate, accessible records, and this technology can help governments meet that need more efficiently.
The technology is straightforward. Anything stored on a distributed ledger cannot be altered after the fact, which makes it easier to confirm ownership and prevent falsified documents. As public records become a growing target for cyberattacks and fraud, blockchain gives agencies a way to secure critical information. For offices that manage sensitive data every day, this approach can reinforce trust while improving service. Bergen County is one example, but the potential stretches far beyond property deeds.
New Jersey already has a strong base to build on. The state is home to more than 200 blockchain and Web3 startups and has invested almost 3 billion in this sector. Entrepreneurs, researchers, and developers are working on tools for identity management, financial systems, and logistics, areas where public agencies often face challenges. If local governments begin to apply this technology to everyday operations, they can deliver outcomes that are more reliable and easier for people to use.
People manage their finances and personal records online and expect the same level of access from government. When public systems fall behind, it creates frustration and erodes trust. Blockchain gives agencies a way to modernize how they handle critical data and deliver better service to the people they serve.
That connection between innovation and public value is central to our mission at the New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance. We bring together companies, educators, and public officials who believe emerging technologies can strengthen communities. Our goal is to build a network where ideas can be shared, tested, and put to work in ways that benefit the public. We welcome new members, especially those working with or exploring blockchain, AI, and digital assets.
To support this work, NJITA is planning a series of town halls focused on blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence. These events will connect technologists, local officials, and residents to foster discussion, answer questions, and encourage smart policy development. Municipalities interested in exploring blockchain are invited to take part. The goal is to make these technologies understandable, accessible, and directly relevant to public service.
As more governments look to adopt blockchain, the companies building these tools need clear, consistent rules. Entrepreneurs and developers cannot bring new solutions to market if outdated regulations make every contract a legal risk. Public agencies want better systems, and businesses are ready to provide them, but the policy environment has to make that collaboration possible. New Jersey’s federal representatives have a role to play in making that happen. By supporting smart national frameworks for adoption, they can help ensure innovation reaches the people who need it.
New Jersey can lead the way by supporting innovation at every level of government. Bergen County made headlines because of the scale of its effort, but smaller towns can take steps of their own. With the right guidance, partnerships, and public engagement, blockchain adoption can move from concept to execution, shaped by the needs of the people it is meant to serve.
Modernization doesn’t require sweeping mandates or large-scale overhauls. It can begin with practical changes in a clerk’s office, a council meeting, or a community forum. What matters is whether it improves how government works. That is where the focus should be, and where blockchain has a lot to offer.
Carlos Iván Merino is the executive director of the New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance, a coalition focused on advancing responsible policy for blockchain, digital assets, and emerging technologies through innovation, entrepreneurship, and education.
