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March 13, 2026; The REITs & Asset Tokenisation Conclave 2026: Blocks to Billions – Advancing India’s Real Estate Future, organised by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, brought together regulators, legal experts, real estate professionals, investors, and technology innovators to discuss how digitalisation, tokenisation, and regulatory reforms are reshaping India’s real estate investment ecosystem. The conclave examined the growing role of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), fractional ownership, and blockchain-enabled tokenisation in unlocking liquidity and expanding investor participation in real estate markets.

In his Welcome Address, Sandeep Khosla, Director General, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, emphasised the Chamber’s role as a platform for constructive dialogue between industry stakeholders and policymakers. He highlighted that as real estate evolves through digital transformation and financial innovation, forums such as this provide an important opportunity to examine regulatory developments, emerging investment structures, and the broader implications of technology-driven financial markets.

Setting the context for the discussion, Shaan Zaveri, Partner, Terazo, delivered the Theme Setting Address, highlighting the convergence of financial innovation and digital infrastructure in reshaping how real estate assets are structured, distributed, and accessed by investors.

Delivering the Keynote Address, Rajesh Bansal, Former Chief Executive Officer, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, spoke about the transformative potential of REITs and asset tokenisation in India’s real estate ecosystem. He noted that digitalisation can significantly enhance accessibility in real estate investments while improving transparency and efficiency across the sector. Emphasising that tokenisation represents an inevitable evolution in financial markets, he highlighted the need for a more professional, well-regulated, and investor-friendly real estate environment to support sustainable growth.

The first panel discussion, Regulatory Reforms and Investor Perspectives, examined the evolving regulatory landscape and the structural challenges associated with tokenised real estate assets. The session was moderated by Ajit Krishnan, Tax Partner, EY India, and featured Sudhakar Deshmukh, Director – Complaint Management, MahaRERA; Sandeep Parekh, Managing Partner, Finsec Law Advisors; Devi Shankar, Head – Real Assets & Family Office Investments, CBRE; and Girish Singhi, Founder, Crest Capital.

The discussion highlighted that tokenisation represents a shift toward a more digital real estate marketplace, but its success will depend on reliable digital land records, strong blockchain infrastructure, and supportive regulatory frameworks. Panellists emphasised that global experience suggests the need for a well-developed ecosystem before tokenised assets can scale effectively. They also noted that investors must clearly understand that purchasing tokens represents a financial interest linked to an asset rather than direct ownership of property. Additionally, transparency of assets, governance standards, and gradual regulatory adoption were identified as key factors for building long-term market confidence.

Delivering a Special Address on the Roadmap to Tokenised Assets, Pramod Rao, Former Executive Director, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), underscored the importance of strong regulatory frameworks in enabling innovation within financial markets. He noted that the responsible adoption of new instruments such as REITs and tokenised assets must be supported by transparency, investor protection, and regulatory oversight to ensure long-term stability and trust in India’s capital markets.

The second panel discussion, Real Estate Funds 2.0: Tokenisation Meets Digital Distribution, explored how technology platforms are transforming the way real estate investments are structured and distributed. The session was moderated by Neil Borate, Editor-in-Chief, The Fynprint, and featured Shiv Parekh, Founder & CEO, hBits; Shaan Zaveri, Partner, Terazo; Gaurav Gadhecha, Partner, Terazo; and Deakin Daney, Chief Business Officer & Head – RealX Whitebox.

The panel highlighted how digital platforms and tokenisation can expand access to real estate investment by lowering entry barriers and enabling fractional ownership structures. Speakers noted that digital distribution models could improve liquidity in traditionally illiquid real estate assets, allowing a broader pool of investors to participate. At the same time, they stressed that regulatory clarity, strong governance frameworks, and transparent investment structures will be critical for building investor confidence and scaling these innovations in India’s real estate market.

The conclave concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ashith Kampani, Chair – PE & VC Committee, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Chairman, CosmicMandala 15 Group, followed by networking among participants.