Two Literal Crypto Bros Built a Real Estate Empire. Then the Homes Started to Fall Apart

Two Literal Crypto Bros Built a Real Estate Empire. In 2019, two Canadian brothers blew into Detroit with an irresistible pitch: For $50, almost anyone could become a property owner. When houses decayed and the city intervened, the blame games began. A fire broke out at 10410 Cadieux in March 2025, burning a hole in the roof. The smell hit me first: damp brick, stagnant water, mold, and bleach. I was partway down a flight of wooden stairs that led to the basement of a 1920s duplex in east Detroit, Michigan. Leading the way was Cornell Dorris, a tenant in the building for nearly a decade. Dorris is in his early forties, has two daughters who visit on weekends, and makes a living smoking meat and cooking for events. As my eyes adjusted, I made out rodent droppings and a black puddle that spread across the basement floor. "Anytime it rains, the water comes down," Dorris said. The air was unnaturally heavy, and I felt a nagging urge to leave. Dorris doesn't have a typical landlord. Almost four years ago, his building was acquired by a startup called RealToken, or RealT.