Unlayered Podcast: Exploring the Future of Air Rights with SkyTrade

In Unlayered Podcast, SkyTrade CEO Jonathan Dockrell shared valuable insights into the growing field of air rights and the work his company is doing to shape the future of this space. The conversation touched on the challenges facing the drone delivery industry, the potential of airspace for real estate, and even the possibilities for flying cars.

‍

Why Focus on Creating a Market for Air Rights?

Q: Why has SkyTrade chosen to prioritize creating a market for air rights?

‍

A: Jonathan explained that air rights represent one of the last untapped markets in real estate and technology. With urban areas running out of horizontal space, the vertical dimension presents enormous opportunities, from real estate development to drone logistics. However, the lack of infrastructure and transparency in trading these rights has been a major bottleneck.

‍

“The value of air rights has always been there, but the tools to access it haven’t. SkyTrade is bridging that gap, turning untapped potential into tangible value.” — Jonathan Dockrell

‍

Key reasons for focusing on air rights:

• Expanding real estate opportunities
• Enabling drone logistics
• Supporting future urban air mobility
• Solving regulatory and infrastructure challenges

‍

‍

What’s Holding Back the Drone Delivery Industry?

Q: What are the major hurdles facing the drone delivery industry today?

‍

A: According to Jonathan, the primary challenges include regulatory uncertainty, lack of infrastructure for tracking airspace usage, and limited public trust. Without a system to securely trade and allocate airspace, drone operators are often left navigating unclear or conflicting rules, which stifles innovation.

‍

“For drone delivery to scale, we need a reliable system for managing airspace. That’s where SkyTrade steps in—by creating a marketplace that combines blockchain’s transparency with the needs of this fast-evolving industry.” — Jonathan

‍

Real Estate Use Cases for Air Space

Q: What are some practical use cases for airspace in real estate?

‍

A: SkyTrade has identified several key applications, including the sale of air rights for vertical construction in urban areas, temporary leasing of airspace for events or advertising, and enabling property owners to monetize unused vertical space.

‍

“Imagine a skyscraper developer purchasing air rights directly from property owners, or a drone delivery company renting airspace to navigate a busy downtown area. These aren’t just concepts—they’re use cases we’re actively building solutions for.” — Jonathan

‍

Estimating a TAM for Air Rights

Q: How does SkyTrade estimate the total addressable market (TAM) for air rights?

‍

A: Jonathan shared that estimating the TAM requires a multi-faceted approach. SkyTrade considers factors like urban density, drone logistics growth, real estate development trends, and emerging technologies like flying cars.

‍

“Our conservative estimates put the TAM for air rights in the trillions, particularly as drones, smart cities, and urban verticalization gain traction globally.” — Jonathan

‍

Building Out a DePIN-Based Drone Tracking App

Q: How is SkyTrade integrating DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) into its plans?

‍

A: SkyTrade is in the early stages of developing a DePIN-based app to track and manage drone activity in real time. This app will enable users to lease airspace dynamically while ensuring compliance with local regulations.

‍

“DePIN provides the infrastructure we need to manage decentralized airspace effectively. Our tracking app will be a game-changer for drone logistics and urban air mobility.” — Jonathan

‍

Existing State of the Air Rights Market

Q: What is the current state of the air rights market?

‍

A: Jonathan described the air rights market as fragmented and highly localized. Transactions often rely on outdated legal frameworks and lack transparency, which limits liquidity and discourages new participants.

‍

“The market today is ripe for disruption. By introducing standardization and tokenization, we’re bringing much-needed clarity and accessibility.” — Jonathan

‍

‍

How to Abstract Away Heterogeneity of Each Product

Q: How does SkyTrade address the inherent variability in air rights products?

‍

A: Jonathan highlighted the importance of standardization. SkyTrade uses tokenization to create uniform digital representations of air rights, making them easier to trade while retaining the flexibility to account for local regulations and unique characteristics.

‍

“Every parcel of airspace is different, but by tokenizing these rights, we create a universal language for trading them.” — Jonathan

‍

Views on Crypto Coming from a Web2 Background

Q: As someone with a Web2 background, how has your view of crypto evolved?

‍

A: Jonathan admitted initial skepticism but said working with blockchain technology has revealed its transformative potential, particularly for creating transparent and decentralized systems.

‍

“Crypto isn’t just about currency—it’s a foundational technology for building trust and removing inefficiencies. That’s what makes it perfect for air rights.” — Jonathan

‍

Reactions to the Project

Q: How have people reacted to SkyTrade’s vision?

‍

A: Reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, especially from early adopters in real estate and drone logistics. However, there’s also been skepticism from traditional players who are wary of blockchain.

‍

“The enthusiasm from innovators is unmatched. But changing minds in traditional industries takes time—and we’re up for the challenge.” — Jonathan

‍

When Can We Expect Flying Cars?

Q: Realistically, when can we expect flying cars?

‍

A: Jonathan predicted that while fully autonomous flying cars are likely a decade away, advancements in air mobility infrastructure—like SkyTrade’s platform—are laying the groundwork today.

‍

“Flying cars won’t happen overnight, but the systems to support them are already being built. We’re part of that journey.” — Jonathan

‍

Future of the Drone Delivery Market

Q: What’s next for the drone delivery industry?

‍

A: Jonathan sees a bright future, driven by technological advancements and regulatory progress. SkyTrade is focused on enabling the infrastructure necessary for drone logistics to thrive.

‍

“The future of drone delivery isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating a framework that makes it scalable, safe, and accessible.” — Jonathan

‍

Looking Ahead for SkyTrade

Q: What’s next for SkyTrade?

‍

A: SkyTrade plans to expand its platform globally, integrate more features for drone and real estate applications, and continue forging partnerships with regulators and tech innovators.

‍

“This is just the beginning. Our vision is to create a seamless ecosystem for air rights that supports everything from skyscrapers to drones to flying cars.” — Jonathan

‍

Final Thoughts

SkyTrade is redefining the air rights market through blockchain, DePIN, and real estate innovation. Whether you’re into drone delivery, urban development, or next-gen mobility, air rights will be a game-changer.

‍