As the political climate in the U.S. heats up ahead of the presidential election, some tech entrepreneurs are seeing an opportunity amid concerns about the future of democracy. Backed by Silicon Valley money, these visionaries aren’t just discussing political reform—they are exploring a more radical concept: starting new countries.

One of the key figures driving this idea is Balaji Srinivasan, a well-known name in the crypto world. A former partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a vocal proponent of decentralization, Balaji believes that technology can replace governments. His idea? You should be able to choose your citizenship like you choose a gym membership.

The Network State: A Vision for Startup Nations

Balaji’s concept, known as the “network state,” envisions startup nations that form online around shared values and interests. These communities would eventually acquire land, establish their own laws, and function alongside existing countries—eventually replacing them. At a conference in Amsterdam, Balaji outlined this future: “We start new companies like Google; we start new currencies like Bitcoin… can we start new countries?”

His vision of network states is ambitious, proposing that these tech-driven societies would function like corporations. Citizens could pick their nationality much like they choose a broadband provider, becoming members of a cyber statelet that operates independently of traditional governments. This is not merely hypothetical; elements of this movement are already taking shape.

Tech Disruption Meets Nation-Building

Silicon Valley has long been synonymous with disruption, reshaping industries from media to education and finance. Now, some entrepreneurs are turning their focus to nation-building. The idea of startup societies isn’t entirely new—projects like charter cities and free ports have already been established in places like Nigeria and Zambia, offering special economic zones with lower taxes and fewer regulations.

One such project is Próspera, a private city off the coast of Honduras, designed for entrepreneurs and promoting cutting-edge science, including experimental gene therapies. Próspera was granted autonomy to create its own laws under a previous government, but the current president is pushing back, leading to a lawsuit against the Honduran government for $10.8 billion.

Corporate Rule or New Frontier?

Critics of the network state movement see it as a form of neo-colonialism, where corporate interests replace elected governments, potentially leading to corporate dictatorships. Others view it as a way to cut through the red tape and inefficiency of traditional democracies, creating a streamlined, free-market approach to governance.

Supporters, like Donald Trump, have floated similar ideas, with Trump suggesting that special economic zones on federal land could be used to revive the American dream by attracting industries and creating jobs with ultra-low taxes and regulations.

However, not all network state initiatives are grand city-states. At the Amsterdam conference, smaller projects like Cabin, a “network city of modern villages,” and Culdesac, a car-free community in Arizona, showcased the growing trend of online communities creating physical spaces with shared governance.

Praxis: A Blockchain Nation in the Making

One of the more futuristic—and controversial—startups is Praxis, a proposed city-state governed by blockchain technology. The brainchild of Dryden Brown, Praxis aims to create a society based on “heroic virtue” and decentralized governance. Brown presented his idea at the Amsterdam event, though the specifics remain vague. The Praxis community currently exists mainly online, with plans to acquire land by 2026.

Praxis has gained a reputation for hosting exclusive parties where tech enthusiasts and alt-right figures mingle with hipster models. These gatherings are often shrouded in secrecy, with attendees signing non-disclosure agreements.

A New Renaissance or a Dystopian Future?

The idea of the network state taps into a broader cultural debate about the future of democracy and technology. Some enthusiasts, like a startup founder at the Praxis event who went by the pseudonym Azi Mandias, believe that the blockchain and AI will lead to the collapse of the democratic nation-state, much like the printing press disrupted feudalism. Azi even expressed excitement at the prospect of corporate monarchs rising from the ashes of traditional governments.

But not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Some, like Dylan, a student at the Praxis launch party, question the practicality of such ventures. “What happens if you don’t have enough employees at the hospital or the school?” she asked, pointing out the inherent challenges of creating a functioning society without the necessary infrastructure.

Corporate Dictatorship or Tech-Driven Utopia?

As the U.S. and other Western democracies grapple with political and economic instability, the network state movement is quietly gaining traction. These tech-driven initiatives may seem like fantasies to some, but they represent a real shift in thinking about governance, sovereignty, and citizenship in the 21st century. Whether these startup nations will become the future of civilization or merely a passing trend remains to be seen.

What is certain, however, is that Silicon Valley is no longer content to disrupt just industries—it’s aiming for nations next.