KEY POINTS
- Sun said he is looking forward to promoting the 'small government' model during his time as Liberland's PM
- Liberland, which only has a 7 km2 territory, has its own blockchain system and also holds Bitcoin in reserve
- Liberland has yet to be formally recognized as a country, but it has 'friendly relations' with some UN states
- The micronation champions 'sunset laws' and promotes individual freedom over governmental interference
Liberland, a yet-to-be-formally-recognized country on a disputed 7 km2 territory between Croatia and Serbia, has elected TRON blockchain founder Justin Sun as its Prime Minister using a blockchain-based system, marking a significant milestone in the technology's role in elections.
A Transparent, Immutable Election Process
According to a statement from the sovereign state's website this week, Liberland's election process was governed by a simple set of rules and 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," the statement said.
Choosing TRON's Sun
The statement further noted that Liberland's President Vít Jedlička nominated Sun to serve as the small nation's Prime Minister. Sun, who founded the TRON blockchain in 2017 and has a lot of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, is described by Liberland as an individual who has proven himself as an accomplished entrepreneur in crypto.
In his first statement since being elected as the Prime Minister, Sun said early Friday that he was "very happy" and aims to "actively promote the idea of small government not only within Liberland but also as a model for the world."
Many friends have recently asked me about my involvement with @Liberland_org , and I am indeed very happy to see the community elect me as the Prime Minister of Liberland.
— H.E. Justin Sun🌞(hiring) (@justinsuntron) October 11, 2024
My understanding of Liberland is as follows: Liberland is not just a country; it is a manifestation of a…
He went on to note that for him, Liberland is not just a sovereign nation. "It is a manifestation of a political philosophy that champions liberty, minimal government intervention, and individual autonomy," facets of a new society that are at the heart of crypto and blockchain.
Facts About Liberland
Liberland, also the Free Republic of Liberland, was founded by Jedlička in 2015. It advocates strongly for blockchain and crypto, and has said it is "the first country to adopt Bitcoin (BTC) as its official currency." It currently has over a thousand residents, more than 4,000 e-residents, and some 700,000 in settler applications.
The sovereign state is open to people who want to settle in Liberland. However, it does not accept individuals with criminal records, those who have alcohol and drug issues, and those who have not secured health insurance valid in Croatia.
Liberland has yet to be formally recognized worldwide as a country, but the government website states that the micronation has "friendly relations" with some United Nations member states, including with "Bitcoin country" El Salvador, Serbia, and Argentina.
One of our settlers took some photos of Liberty Island - which is part of Liberland - and its beautiful beaches, right on the Danube River. Cruise ships pass by quite often. Come and visit - hike, bike, birdwatch and more! #Liberland #liberty #libertarian #Danube #DanubeRiver… pic.twitter.com/xFsIP0D3Nj
— Liberland (@Liberland_org) October 1, 2024
While Liberland made a special mention for the people of Serbia and its government for the "warmth" it has provided for Liberland settlers, Liberland said Croatia has "prevented" people from visiting the territory for years. Liberland said it seeks to improve relations with Croatia.
Liberland's Blockchain System
Liberland utilizes blockchain technology and advocates for the technology's broader adoption. It said it the first nation "to structure its entire governance and legislation to be managed on its own blockchain."
Specifically, Liberland's blockchain system, which uses a nominated proof-of-state (NPoS) consensus mechanism, allows citizens and "e-residents" to engage with Liberland business from anywhere in the world just with an internet connection.
Join us in building a nation powered by blockchain technology, individual liberty, and meritocratic citizen governance. The Liberland revolution is just beginning, and your involvement makes all the difference! #BePartOfHistory #LiberlandRevolution
— Liberland (@Liberland_org) September 25, 2024
The Liberland blockchain has an operation token called the Liberland dollar (LLD), which is used for gas fees, company operations, court engagements, and contracts.
The government also has a governance token called Liberland merit (LLM). With 5,000 stakes LLMs, and after passing a KYC (know-your-customer) e-residency process, an individual can claim citizenship in Liberland and participates in the state's political process.
Liberland and Its Liberty
Just as Liberland embraces minimal governmental interference and promotes freedom, it also encourages financial innovation. It has Bitcoin reserves and its blockchain system is operated by its people.
Liberland champions "sunset laws," or laws that automatically end after a certain period of time. The purpose for such advocacy is to "prevent outdated or unnecessary regulations from piling up," and in turn, promote individual freedom.
