UW to Aid Efforts to Prevent ‘Bad Actors’ from Acquiring Sensitive U.S. Real Estate and Infrastructure

A blockchain company has entered into an agreement with the University of Wyoming to investigate ways to securely monitor foreign ownership of sensitive U.S. land and critical infrastructure, while protecting the privacy of American landowners.

Balcony, a company using blockchain to secure government real estate records, is working with the UW Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation (CBDI) to develop a system that could be used to implement national security policies by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

"The project aims to create barriers for bad actors while eliminating concentrated repositories of valuable data called a honeypot," says Steve Lupien, the Ada Lovelace Director of the CBDI. "Multiple university units will be involved, including the School of Energy Resources; College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources; College of Law; and College of Business. As many as 15 faculty, undergraduate and graduate students may be involved as well."

John Belitsky, Balcony co-founder and chief strategy officer, says the company is using blockchain to protect against hacks; connect government departments at the county, state and national levels; and turn data analytics into insights about real estate records.

In looking for an academic partner to develop a secure database of real estate records in the U.S., Belitsky says Wyoming U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis introduced Balcony to the CBDI.

"I have made economic development throughout the Cowboy State a priority and am always looking for ways to build partnerships at the University of Wyoming, so students have experiential learning opportunities," Lummis says. "I am thrilled Balcony is contracting with the Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation to ensure our nation's intellectual property is protected."

Belitsky says involving UW makes sense for Balcony.

"Wyoming is viewed as a leader in blockchain legislation, with other states often copying its approach," he says. "The University of Wyoming's close relationship with the state government is seen as unique and beneficial to our goal."

Belitsky says the project aims to balance privacy protection with national security interests using blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs. He adds that the completed system is designed to be modular and applicable across various levels of government while preserving autonomy. It also will require minimal expertise from the state to manage, using simple, inspectable components.

Funded through a donation to the UW Foundation, the Balcony projects is set up as an experiential learning program with students, Lupien says. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed around the end of the year.

For more information about the CBDI and its programs, visit www.uwyo.edu/cbdi or email [email protected].

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