Tron founder Justin Sun is many things. You can now count prime minister among them.
This week, the micronation of Liberland—a largely theoretical European state cooked up by right-wing libertarians in 2015—announced that it elected Sun to serve as its head of state.
So what exactly does that mean in practical terms? It depends on who you ask.
The average person might say “nothing at all,” given the fact that Liberland lays claim to 2.7 miles of disputed, uninhabited floodplain currently being fought over by Croatia and Serbia. No nation on earth currently recognizes Liberland, and several self-proclaimed citizens of the mini-country have been arrested by Croatian authorities for trespassing when they’ve tried to enter it.
But the founders of Liberland maintain that they have already onboarded 1,000 (digital) citizens, and that they are steadily building towards establishing a libertarian utopia—a goal that has attracted support within the often government-hostile crypto community.
What would the Liberland dream look like, if ever realized on the banks of the Danube? While the “Laws” section of the micronation’s website is currently empty, according to a Reddit post it previously featured highlights including zero restrictions on drugs and firearms, and an age of consent of 13.
Liberland has also attempted to market itself as a crypto haven that would run government operations on its own blockchain network, pass crypto-friendly legislation, and establish “decentralized hyperdemocracy” for citizens via on-chain voting mechanisms. According to a Reuters report last year, Liberland holds 99% of its currency reserves in Bitcoin.
As prime minister, Justin Sun will now be front and center of the campaign to make Liberland a reality. The new title replaces one the crypto founder formerly held; last year, Sun lost his role as ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the tiny Caribbean island nation of Grenada. The gig came with the title of “His Excellency,” an honorific that Sun eagerly added to his social media accounts, and still keeps to this day.
“I aim to actively promote the idea of small government not only within Liberland but also as a model for the world,” Sun told Decrypt in a written statement. “Our success can inspire other nations to embrace libertarian principles.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward