Tron (TRX) founder Justin Sun has been elected as Prime Minister of Liberland — a micronation located between the borders of Croatia and Serbia — following the results of the self-proclaimed sovereign nation’s Oct. 5 elections.
According to a recent announcement from Liberland, entrepreneur Evan Luthra, journalist Jillian Godsi, former Croatian politician Ivan Pernar, and information technology professional Dorian Stern Vukotić, were also elected to Liberland’s Congress alongside Sun.
Spokespeople for the micronation issued this statement upon announcing the election results:
“The election process, governed by a simple set of rules, was entirely algorithmic, providing transparency. This system has a unique ability to eliminate doubt regarding election outcomes, a challenge faced by many countries still relying on traditional methods.”
“We hope to be a pioneering example of what will soon become common practice,” spokespeople for the Liberland micronation continued.
The flag of Liberland. Source: Liberland
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Network states and sovereign crypto micronations
Liberland’s statement reflects a growing desire among crypto enthusiasts and industry executives to leverage blockchain technologies to form micronations, decentralized network states, and overhaul arcane election processes in already established countries.
The term network state, popularized by investor, entrepreneur, and former industry executive Balaji Srinivasan, refers to a geographically distributed nation that uses blockchain technology and privately held land to function as a sovereign state.
In 2014, Bitnation became the first crypto microstate to declare sovereignty, which inspired other jurisdictions to seek independence.
These jurisdictions include landlocked locations, such as the 2.7 square-mile Liberland, islands, and oceanic vessels. Futurists have also proposed the idea of seasteading, or building permanent installations in international waters that would function as sovereign countries.
A 3D design of a futuristic seastead. Source: Arktide
At the time of writing, no permanent seastead installations have been built, and the novel concept has been met with hostility from established nation-states, which view attempts to establish new countries as a threat to their sovereignty.
Critics argue that it will take far more than blockchain technology to keep these micronations afloat, including guarding their newly erected borders from larger and more aggressive nation-states.
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