Joshua Johnson

ERA 2024

Recently, while on a visit to Dubai, I had the privilege of meeting many influential leaders, including Juan Carlos Reyes, president of the National Commission of Digital Assets of El Salvador. He introduced me to Joshua Johnson, a global entrepreneur and innovator in the field of “tokenizing” real-world assets on blockchain. I learned a great deal about the digital economy from listening to both Juan Carlos and Joshua, and I’m glad to call them my friends.

Joshua has an interesting backstory. While the three of us had dinner in Dubai, Joshua told Juan Carlos and me about his journey. We spoke about everything from international business to AI and neuropsychology. Such conversations reminded me that when we choose friends and advisors wisely, we have limitless opportunities to learn and grow—no matter our current circumstances.

I asked Joshua to spend time with me on a video call so that I could learn more about the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). He travels the world and he took the time to coordinate a video call while he was visiting Africa, working with governments, family offices, and business leaders on new ways to bring liquidity, transparency, and opportunity into real estate markets around the world.



Before diving into blockchain, Joshua pursued multiple experiences that shaped his worldview:

  1. Family & Faith
    He grew up with a father who attended seminary, inspiring Joshua’s passion for service and community. This mindset guided him into missionary work and shaped his desire to help people around the world.
  2. International Education
    He earned his MBA in China, immersing himself in a society where people often think collectively rather than individually. This experience taught him to appreciate different cultural approaches to problem-solving and collaboration.
  3. Early Tech & Healthcare Career
    Joshua worked in both health technology and crypto. During the COVID era, he opened multiple clinics in the U.S., striving to provide care for people in need. Later, he returned to the blockchain space, guided by a core belief that we can use technology to have a positive impact on humanity.



From Blockchain Enthusiast to Tokenization of Real Estate

In 2017, Joshua dove deeply into the world of blockchain. After studying emerging trends, he foresaw that real-world asset (RWA) tokenization—particularly in real estate—could unlock massive global opportunities. However, the space was still early. Over the past two years, he watched the groundwork being laid for truly liquid real estate markets.

Now, his core focus is Liquid Hector, one branch of a family of companies dedicated to tokenizing real estate across different regions:

  • Liquid Hector for Asia, Europe, and Africa
  • Liquid Acre in the United States
  • Liquid Manzana in Latin America (including El Salvador)

Their goal is to build a platform where investors can buy fractionalized ownership of real estate, just like you can buy a share of Microsoft or Tesla on the stock market. In fact, they recently secured a digital asset license in El Salvador—an essential milestone. Joshua is now in Africa, working to extend this vision to even more parts of the world.



Four Pillars of Tokenizing Real Estate

Joshua outlined four essential “pillars” that will make tokenized real estate truly scalable and liquid:

  1. Liquidity
    Like a stock exchange, there must be a reliable way to convert ownership stakes into cash (or other digital assets) whenever needed.
  2. Marketplace Infrastructure
    The technology to list, buy, sell, and track real estate tokens must be secure and user-friendly.
  3. Government Support
    Without a supportive legal framework, these projects face too much uncertainty. Countries like El Salvador and the UAE show promising leadership.
  4. Land Registry on the Blockchain
    This is the ultimate key. Once official property records are digitized on-chain, people anywhere in the world could trust they’re buying verified property. At that point, real estate could trade more like a commodity.



Why It Matters to People in Prison

I’m always mindful that many people in jails and prisons feel disconnected from modern technology. Joshua’s story, however, illustrates why it’s crucial to keep learning—especially about rapidly evolving fields like blockchain. Even if you’re not in a position to invest financial resources right now, you can invest time to learn. You can learn the language and basic principles. By developing your reading, writing, math, and critical-thinking skills, you’ll prepare yourself to contribute meaningfully in the digital economy after release.



The Path Forward

Joshua encourages us, telling us that we’re still “early” in this space of tokenization of RWA. A future awaits where a person in Tokyo can purchase a token for real estate in El Salvador, Africa, or the UAE—simply with an internet connection. Liquid Hector and similar ventures hope to make that a reality by bridging the gap between governments, investors, and communities that need capital. He’s an ambassador for an inclusive future, one where new technologies open doors for people across all regions.



My Gratitude and Final Thoughts

I’m grateful to Joshua for taking time—late at night in Africa—to speak with me. His journey reminds us that no matter our background, values like grit, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt can lead us to make a real difference in the world. I hope that seeing how I, once incarcerated for 26 years, am able to connect with a global leader like Joshua Johnson will encourage you to invest in your own education. If you keep building skills and cultivating hope, you can create relationships that open limitless possibilities.


Self-Directed Learning Question

  • How are you using your current challenges and environment to develop the skills and mindset that will make you an asset in a rapidly changing world—especially as new technologies like blockchain emerge?

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