For most people, blockchain just isn’t a priority. How could it be? They don’t even know what it is! They may think it has something to do with Bitcoin or cryptocurrency. Life comes and goes without most people in Utah thinking about blockchain. I don’t blame them. The world has been wrapped in enough hype, jargon and bad headlines to make anyone tune out.
But here’s the thing: Blockchain — and more specifically, tokenization — isn’t about gambling on digital coins. It’s about upgrading how ownership, records and transactions work. In other words, it’s infrastructure.
I’ve spent my career working with digital networks and emerging technologies, and what I’ve learned is this: When a technology quietly makes systems faster, more transparent and more accessible, it stops being a novelty and starts becoming a utility.
That’s exactly where tokenization is headed.
What tokenization actually means (without the tech speak)
Tokenization is simply the process of representing real-world assets like property, stocks, artwork or contracts as well as everyday processes.
These are recorded as digital tokens on a secure ledger. Those tokens can be tracked, transferred and verified without relying on slow or fragmented intermediaries.
This isn’t a fringe idea. The World Economic Forum has been tracking tokenization for years, and some sources estimate that up to $10 trillion in assets could be tokenized globally by 2030. That doesn’t happen because of speculation. It happens because existing systems are overdue for modernization.
Faster processes aren’t hype; they’re efficiency
Anyone who has ever waited days for a financial transaction to clear knows how outdated some systems still are. Traditional stock and securities transactions only recently moved from two-day settlements to one-day settlements in the U.S.
Blockchain-based settlement can happen in minutes, sometimes seconds, with full auditability. Fewer delays mean less risk, lower costs and fewer disputes. That’s not flashy — it’s practical.
When roads reduce commute times, we don’t call that speculation. We call it progress.
Transparency builds trust
Public blockchains create records that are tamper-resistant and verifiable. That matters for everything from land records to supply chains.
For governments and institutions, transparent ledgers can reduce fraud and improve accountability. For citizens, it means clearer visibility into how assets and records are managed. Even the U.S. Government Accountability Office has acknowledged blockchain’s potential benefits for record-keeping and oversight.
Infrastructure works best when people trust it.
Utah has a choice
Utah has a strong track record of embracing practical innovation, from fintech to digital government services. Treating blockchain like infrastructure means focusing on clear rules, consumer protections and real-world use cases instead of hype cycles.
States like Wyoming have already moved in this direction by creating legal frameworks for digital assets and blockchain-based entities. Utah doesn’t need to copy anyone, but it shouldn’t ignore what’s working either.
This isn’t roulette
Speculation exists in every emerging technology. We saw it with railroads, the internet and renewable energy. But speculation isn’t the same as utility.
Tokenization is about making ownership more flexible, transactions more efficient and records more trustworthy. That’s infrastructure logic, not casino logic.
As someone who lives and works in Utah, I believe the conversation needs to mature. We don’t need slogans or fear. We need clarity.
Blockchain won’t replace everything — and it shouldn’t. But where it improves systems people already rely on, we should treat it the same way we treat roads, power grids and broadband: as something worth building carefully, regulating thoughtfully and using responsibly.
Because real infrastructure isn’t loud. It just works.