During a recent discussion, Praxis co-founder Brown drew parallels between Praxis and Israel, emphasizing the journey of a scattered, stateless people with aspirations of returning to their historical homeland. He noted, “There were these stateless people who were scattered,” and emphasized the aim of building a state. Srinivasan, another key figure in the organization, has been more explicit in previous statements, describing his vision as akin to “tech Zionism.”
The concept of a network state enables “the West” to be represented without geographical presence. In addition to a location in Vandenberg, Praxis has announced plans to explore opportunities in countries such as Morocco, Japan, and the Dominican Republic for establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Although Brown does not categorize Morocco as Western, he stated that Praxis is open to collaborating with nations willing to provide land. His promise includes attracting companies and tech talent that could significantly enhance local economies, though it remains uncertain if residents within these zones would gain “citizenship” in a Praxian SEZ. In the interim, through Praxis Development, the group aims to acquire residential properties for its members as a transitional step towards securing “real territory, real assets, and real power.”
Critics have labeled these efforts as a neo-colonial endeavor. Gil Duran, a former political consultant and author of the newsletter The Nerd Reich, described it as a “colonial project, aimed at tech empire.” He commented, “It sounds like colonization 2.0. When you go to another person’s country and create your own country there, no matter your excuse, no matter your rationale.”
In a similar vein, a recent post on the Praxis X account referred to the initiative as a “Cyberpunk East India Company.”
The SEZ strategy has been exemplified by Próspera, a charter community supported by Pronomos Capital on the island of Roatán in Honduras. Próspera has established an arbitration system, low taxes, and a defined code of conduct. Vitalia, the original project of Ion, contemplated setting a permanent base within Próspera.
Leaders of Próspera assert that they do not identify as a network state; rather, their ambition is to achieve “city-scale development that advances human progress and prosperity—within Honduran sovereignty and law.” In 2017, the Honduran government under Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado granted Próspera its charter. However, Hernández faced arrest in 2022 for drug trafficking and was later convicted. His successor repealed Próspera’s SEZ status, claiming such zones infringed upon the nation’s sovereignty. In response, Próspera has filed an $11 billion lawsuit against the Honduran government for failing to uphold “guarantees of legal stability.” The case remains unresolved.
Ion indicated that he would manage future projects differently with his Viva City initiative.
At the Viva Frontier Tower, after a morning rave and a series of workshops focused on health and longevity, Ion, now dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans, guided a small group of attendees through his temporary location. While the images showcased on the group’s website present a vibrant, semitropical seaside utopia reminiscent of Monaco and Atlantis, the actual setting—a repurposed WeWork space—remains in various stages of upkeep.
