Network States, Crypto Cities, & Startup Societies: why are we here?
- Date
- 2026-03-16
- Host
- Personal
About this event
A lot of people are talking about network states, crypto cities, and startup societies as if the future is already here. This event is for anyone who wants to slow down, look past the slogans, and ask a sharper question: why are these ideas gaining traction now, and what are people actually trying to build? If you have been seeing these terms across tech, crypto, governance, and community circles and want a clearer, more grounded conversation, this is the room for it. Expect a thoughtful in-person gathering built for people who are curious, skeptical, optimistic, or somewhere in between. What Is This? This event is a focused conversation about new forms of organizing people, capital, and place. The core theme is simple: as technology changes how people coordinate online, more founders, builders, and communities are starting to ask whether entirely new social structures can emerge from the internet into the physical world. Rather than treating network states, crypto cities, and startup societies as interchangeable buzzwords, we will unpack the differences between them. What assumptions do these models make about governance, citizenship, ownership, incentives, culture, and belonging? Where do they overlap, and where do they break apart? The format is designed to be social, conversational, and idea-dense. This is not just a passive sit-and-listen session. It is an in-person gathering where people can compare perspectives, pressure-test ideas, and meet others who are thinking seriously about the future of communities, coordination, and institution-building. Whether you are deeply embedded in crypto and startup ecosystems or just starting to explore these concepts, the event aims to create a shared baseline while leaving room for disagreement. Good conversation matters here as much as bold ideas. What to Expect You can expect a structured but relaxed evening built around discussion, exchange, and real-world interpretation. The goal is not to “solve” the topic in one night, but to make it more legible and more useful. Likely themes in the conversation include: What people mean by network states and why the concept has become so visible in tech circles How crypto cities differ from traditional cities, special economic zones, and digital communities What a startup society is trying to optimize for, and why some founders and operators find the idea compelling Why these movements are emerging now, including the role of remote work, internet-native coordination, crypto infrastructure, and dissatisfaction with legacy institutions The biggest tensions and open questions, from governance and regulation to inclusion, legitimacy, and execution The evening will also create space for direct interaction with other attendees. That may include open discussion, informal debate, and networking with people approaching the topic from different angles: technical, entrepreneurial, civic, philosophical, or community-driven. Expect conversations that move between high-level vision and practical questions. It is one thing to talk about digitally coordinated societies in theory; it is another to discuss what makes a place function, what makes a community durable, and what people are actually willing to commit to offline. Why Attend If these ideas have felt intriguing but slippery, this event gives you a chance to get clearer. You will leave with a better sense of the language, the landscape, and the motivations behind the people building in this space. This is also a useful room if you care less about ideology and more about implementation. The interesting question is not only whether these concepts sound ambitious, but whether they can attract talent, sustain trust, govern fairly, and create value for the people involved. You should attend if you want to: Build a sharper mental model of the differences between network states, crypto cities, and startup societies Test your own assumptions through discussion with people who may see the future very differently Meet others working at the edge of tech, crypto, community, and institution design Explore practical implications for startups, digital communities, governance experiments, and real-world organizing Have a more substantive conversation than the usual social-media discourse around these topics For some attendees, the value will be strategic: understanding where new communities, markets, and ecosystems may form. For others, the value will be intellectual: getting beyond hype and into the underlying ideas. For many, it will be both. Practical Details This is an in-person event taking place on Monday, March 16 at 6:30 PM GMT+8. The in-person format is intentional. Topics like governance, belonging, coordination, and shared vision are better explored in a room where people can actually meet, read each other, and continue the conversation naturally. Because the event sits at the intersection of tech, crypto, startups, and community-building, you do not need to arrive with a fixed position. Curiosity is enough. A willingness to think critically, ask good questions, and engage respectfully will make the experience better for everyone. A few useful expectations: Come ready for discussion, not just observation You do not need deep prior expertise, but familiarity with current tech or crypto conversations will help This is a strong fit for people who enjoy big ideas connected to real execution The best outcomes will likely come from staying after the formal discussion to continue conversations informally If you have been looking for a reason to move this topic from your feed into an actual room with smart, engaged people, this is that opportunity. Bring your questions, your skepticism, and your sense of what might be possible.
Who should attend
If you have been circling these ideas online and want a smarter, more grounded conversation in person, this event is likely for you. - You are a **founder, operator, or startup builder** curious about new models for organizing talent, capital, community, and place. - You work in or around **crypto, web3, or internet-native communities** and want to better understand how digital coordination might translate into real-world institutions. - You are interested in **governance, cities, special zones, citizenship, or social systems** and want to explore how these ideas are being reimagined by tech-driven communities. - You enjoy being in rooms where people can **challenge ambitious ideas without dismissing them**, and where skepticism and optimism can coexist. - You are a **community builder, organizer, researcher, or investor** looking for signal on where new experiments in coordination and belonging may be heading. - You do not need to be an expert, but you should be someone who likes asking: **what is actually being built here, and why now?**