Challenges of Flash Cities and Cyber Nations Discussed by Vitalik Buterin Governance and Membership Qualifications Remain Key Issues

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently revealed that despite his groundbreaking ideas, he still faces significant challenges in developing the concepts of “popup cities” and the broader notion of “network states.” In his speech at the 2024 Network State Conference held in Singapore on September 22, Buterin specifically pointed out that governance and membership are two key issues that remain unresolved.

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Network States: Societies Unbound by Traditional Governments
Zuzalu: An Experiment in Network States
Challenges of Zuzalu: Human Nature and Governance
Popup Cities: A Sci-Fi New Dream
Vitalik’s Call for Collaboration
What is a Network State?
At the core of Vitalik’s vision is the concept of network states, which involves transforming online communities into physical communities that ultimately seek political autonomy. This idea highlights the importance of decentralized communities and how they can form societies free from the constraints of traditional government systems.

Vitalik explained that network states could establish their own rules, rejecting the excessive regulation often seen in the West that hinders progress. However, he also acknowledged that the actual implementation of these rules remains fraught with uncertainty.

(Note: Vitalik previously shared his views on network states in 2022)

In his speech, Vitalik reflected on an experimental project called “Zuzalu,” which took place from March to May 2023. This initiative brought together 200 individuals from various fields—including Ethereum enthusiasts, cryptocurrency executives, biotech entrepreneurs, and scientific researchers—in Montenegro, united to tackle collective issues like extending human lifespan. The idea was simple: “Gather these people for 60 days, try to become a city, and then see what happens.” Vitalik used this project as an example.

Participants in Zuzalu engaged in activities such as healthy eating, cold-water baths, and yoga, which, according to Vitalik, helped foster a positive environment. This experiment emphasized the importance of establishing such communities under human factors. However, despite successfully creating a temporary city, Vitalik admitted that the next steps for Zuzalu remain unclear. How to establish effective governance for these communities is still one of the major unresolved issues.

Vitalik pointed out that although people enjoyed the experience, governance problems persisted, making it challenging to determine the future developmental direction of such network states. He mentioned that current tribalism on social media could hinder the constructive relationships these communities need.

Vitalik described popup cities as a “new medium” where innovative and future ideas can be explored, viewing them as places that can “bring sci-fi to life” and contemplate the future. He believes these cities could become centers of innovation where people can test new social models, experiment with different governance structures, and push the boundaries of human collaboration.

However, the path ahead remains challenging. Vitalik argued that tribalism is often “zero-sum and unproductive,” which is a primary barrier to the successful development of network states. He emphasized that the sustainability of these states depends on overcoming narrow competitive mindsets and fostering cooperative relationships.

Vitalik acknowledged that while popup cities might have found a “product-market fit” (PMF), many obstacles still need to be overcome, particularly regarding governance and membership. He stated that these two issues are crucial for the long-term viability of network states.

“Going further depends on our goals,” Vitalik remarked. He concluded his speech by calling for strengthened collaboration, even if their goals may differ: “We should strengthen collaboration; even if our goals are inconsistent, we should carefully consider how to achieve that.”

The concept of network states was initially proposed by entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan and has been further expanded by Vitalik. This vision provides a new direction for decentralized communities, combining individual freedom with collective values. Some view network states as successors to libertarianism, offering a fresh framework for balancing individualism with community needs.

Vitalik’s speech at the Network State Conference highlighted the potential and complexity of this concept. While the visions of popup cities and network states are inspiring, turning them into sustainable realities remains an ongoing process. Governance models, membership criteria, and collaboration strategies will be key areas to observe in the development of this concept.

Vitalik Buterin
Zuzalu
Popup Cities
Network States

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