Dallas homebuilder Serene Country Homes Group is working with China-based Puyin Blockchain Group, which raises money for its investments through a secure digital currency platform, to raise $655 million to build new homes in the master-planned community Sendera Ranch. 

Earlier this year, Serene Country — whose parent company is based in Singapore — merged with Puyin Blockchain Group to fund new home projects using blockchain, the infrastructure for Bitcoin. Fundraising for the 2,385-home build in Sendera Ranch recently began, making it one of the first large-scale real estate projects to be completely funded by digital currency.

In a statement from February, Serene Country Homes said it wants to establish a share of the affordable housing market in Dallas-Fort Worth (the company builds homes starting in the $200,000s). The company hopes to compete with local industry mainstays like DR Horton, Lennar, and Centex. Even though the builder is owned by foreign investors, it has a U.S.-based executive vice president of land acquisition and development. Jeff Peterson represents the company in the U.S. and has joined the local builders association and chamber of commerce. 

The Serene Country Homes are being built in Sendera Ranch alongside homes from the familiar names. The company is hoping to stand out among its more established peers by offering modern features such as RFID scanners to assist buyers in the selection process, greater energy efficiency, and smart home technology. The designs will also offer open floor plans, larger-than-average secondary bedrooms, extra closet space, and built-in desks. 

The developer already acquired the 1,400 acres of land near Highway 287 in north Fort Worth in 2014. Construction is not scheduled to begin for another 18 months. From there, the development will spread across several stages.