Vitalik Buterin on the Challenges of Flash Cities and Network States Governance and Membership Remain Key Issues
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently revealed that despite proposing groundbreaking ideas, he still faces significant challenges in developing the concepts of “popup cities” and broader “network states.” In his speech at the 2024 Network States Conference in Singapore on September 22nd, Buterin specifically pointed out governance and membership as two key unresolved issues.
Network States: Societies Unbound by Traditional Governments
Zuzalu: An Experiment in Network States
Issues Arising from Zuzalu: Human Nature and Governance
Popup Cities: A Sci-Fi Dream
Vitalik Calls for Collaboration
What are Network States?
Vitalik’s core 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 that are not bound by traditional government systems.
Vitalik explains that network states may establish their own rules and refuse excessive regulations that typically hinder progress in the West. However, he also acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the actual implementation of these rules.
In his speech, Vitalik reviewed an experimental project called “Zuzalu,” which took place from March to May 2023. This project brought together 200 individuals from various fields, including Ethereum enthusiasts, cryptocurrency executives, biotech entrepreneurs, and scientists, who gathered in Montenegro to address collective issues such as extending human lifespan. The idea was simple: “Gather these people together for 60 days, try to become a city, and see what happens.” Vitalik used this project as an example.
The participants of Zuzalu engaged in activities such as healthy eating, cold water baths, and yoga, which, according to Vitalik, contributed to creating a positive environment. This experiment emphasized the importance of building such communities based on human factors. However, despite successfully creating a temporary city, Vitalik admits that the next steps for Zuzalu remain unclear. Establishing effective governance for these communities remains one of the major unresolved issues.
Vitalik points out that while people enjoyed the experience, governance issues still persist, making it difficult to determine the future development direction of such network states. He mentions that tribalism on current social media platforms may hinder the constructive relationships required by these communities.
Vitalik describes popup cities as a “new medium” where innovation and future ideas can be explored. He sees them as a place to “realize science fiction” and contemplate the future. He believes that 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, challenges lie ahead. Vitalik believes that tribalism is often “zero-sum and unproductive,” posing a major obstacle to the successful development of network states. He emphasizes that the sustainability of these nations depends on the ability to transcend narrow competitive mentalities and promote cooperative relationships.
Vitalik acknowledges that while popup cities may have found a “product-market fit,” there are still many obstacles to overcome, particularly in governance and membership. He states that these two issues are crucial for the long-term viability of network states.
“To go further, it depends on our goals,” says Vitalik. He concludes his speech by urging people to strengthen collaboration, even if their goals may differ: “We should strengthen collaboration, even if our goals are not aligned, we should carefully consider how to do it.”
The concept of network states was initially proposed by entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan and further expanded by Vitalik. This idea provides a new direction for decentralized communities, combining individual freedom with collective values. Some view network states as successors to libertarianism, providing a fresh framework for balancing individualism and community needs.
Vitalik’s speech at the Network States Conference highlights the potential and complexity of this concept. While the visions of popup cities and network states are exciting, turning them into sustainable realities is an ongoing process. Governance models, membership criteria, and collaboration strategies will be key areas to observe the development of this concept.
Vitalik Buterin
Zuzalu
Popup Cities
Network States
