Blockchain property start-up encounters regulatory resistance

A Swiss blockchain start-up that aims to open up the real estate investment market to more people has run into a regulatory hurdle. The case of SwissRealCoin shows that the relationship between the new disruptive technology and the regulators is still delicate despite Switzerland making strides to welcome blockchain to the country. Rock bottom interest rates have made real estate attractive for investors, particularly in Switzerland. Short of buying a house to live in or rent out, people can invest in property funds that entitle them to a share in real estate portfolios. This CHF2.8 trillion ($2.83 trillion) global market (CHF32.2 billion in Switzerland) is dominated by large institutional players.  SwissRealCoin aims to make such investments an easier proposition for the person on the street. Their sales pitch is a familiar one in the blockchain scene, but is so far unproven given the novelty of the innovation.  The start-up had wanted to kill two birds with one stone: