Bitcoin Nation

[deisik]

If you ever needed proof that the Discovery Channel employs no one who can do math and doesn't bother fact-checking, there it is.  This thing has been around for years and gotten no closer to construction.

Actually, I know this and agree with all that you say about this scam. Just thought that the image was appropriate for the purposes of reviving the discussion...

[Ibian]

Been thinking about the same thing. Maybe something like an artificial floating island, possibly a huge ship-city that can sail around the world as needed. With an airport for easy travel and obviously easy to anchor a personal boat to it for those so inclined. We would have to import everything this way, but we can afford to and it would also mean that other nations benefit from us since they would be making money.

Something like that one?

Something less ugly, for one thing. Less tall, more wide so as to actually be able to float.

One of the important things is aesthetics. It has to be nice to live there.

[empoweoqwj]

The idea of micro-nations have been tried before and has failed every time. No country will give a part of its territory away, no matter how poor it is. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi even offered to pay $2 billion for just a few hectares of land, but even the poorest nations rejected his offer.

Even if some third world country is ready to part with its territory, no other UN member will recognize the micro-nation.

Well, by definition, the UN wouldn't accept it. But that's fine. The UN exists to serve countries. If you don't believe in countries, makes your pretty much incompatible with the ideals of the UN.

[other_side]

1.) Is it likely that BTC users could purchase a small amount of land from a country crippled in debt? 
2.) What would be the prime locations?
3.) How would issues such as taxation work? 

You don't need to purchase anything. You can easily move to Pitcairn and become head of a state. It has open immigration, no taxes.
The other possible location is Nauru.
The creation of "all legal" tourist destination is long overdue.

[bryant.coleman]

You don't need to purchase anything. You can easily move to Pitcairn and become head of a state. It has open immigration, no taxes.
The other possible location is Nauru.
The creation of "all legal" tourist destination is long overdue.

The Pitcairns are administered by the British. And they'll kick your a$$ if you try to create a micro-nation there. Same with Nauru. It is controlled by the USA (although by proxy). Both Pitcairn and Nauru will deport you in a matter of minutes if the FBI issues a warrant against you.

I recommend bribing some African dictator and creating a semi-micronation somewhere in Sub Saharan Africa.

[deisik]

The Pitcairns are administered by the British. And they'll kick your a$$ if you try to create a micro-nation there. Same with Nauru. It is controlled by the USA (although by proxy). Both Pitcairn and Nauru will deport you in a matter of minutes if the FBI issues a warrant against you.

I recommend bribing some African dictator and creating a semi-micronation somewhere in Sub Saharan Africa.

And you will have to pay toll on a regular basis to all those tribes that are fighting between themselves for centuries there. The best place with security and safety in mind is Antarctica. It is officially neutral, doesn't belong to any state (though some are claiming) and has no government. Also, you can make friends with penguins living there (Tux the Penguin being the official mascot of Linux)...

[bryant.coleman]

And you will have to pay toll on a regular bases to all those tribes that are fighting between themselves for centuries there. The best place with security and safety in mind is Antarctica.

Lol.. even for going there you will need special permits. Not possible at all.

[deisik]

And you will have to pay toll on a regular bases to all those tribes that are fighting between themselves for centuries there. The best place with security and safety in mind is Antarctica.

Lol.. even for going there you will need special permits. Not possible at all.

If you decide to secede, you leave the jurisdiction of municipal law and become in a sense a subject of the international legal system just like, say, the Holy See. So you wouldn't actually need to obtain special permits from your government (if that was your point) since it is no longer your government...

As an alternative, you can drift somewhere in the international waters

[bryant.coleman]

As an alternative, you can drift somewhere in the international waters

This seems to be the only option. I don't think that artificial islands are economically viable, if the water depth is more than 15 meters. BTW... I am not extremely sure whether any part of the shallow ocean (<15 m depth) comes outside the EEZ of various nations.

[deisik]

As an alternative, you can drift somewhere in the international waters

This seems to be the only option. I don't think that artificial islands are economically viable, if the water depth is more than 15 meters. BTW... I am not extremely sure whether any part of the shallow ocean (<15 m depth) comes outside the EEZ of various nations.

If we are right, then all it takes is the purchase of ships and establishment of a floating colony somewhere in the open ocean under a flag of some liberal state. Or you can just buy a whole government of some of those micro-states...

[Ekaros]

What are entry requirements for Somalia?

Just hire sufficient private security get some land there and settle in.

[Cryddit]

I sort of hate to contribute to such a resoundingly stupid idea, but if you want shallow water out in the middle of the ocean, there is the Minerva Reef. 

It's long been known to sailors as a place where you can drop anchor with <20 meters of anchor chain, far from any land.  In fact a few "communities" have been attempted there, including one centered around a saloon that someone built on stilts and one that actually dredged local sand together to bring a dry surface above sea level, though none have gained any sort of permanence.

[deisik]

I sort of hate to contribute to such a resoundingly stupid idea, but if you want shallow water out in the middle of the ocean, there is the Minerva Reef. 

It's long been known to sailors as a place where you can drop anchor with <20 meters of anchor chain, far from any land.  In fact a few "communities" have been attempted there, including one centered around a saloon that someone built on stilts and one that actually dredged local sand together to bring a dry surface above sea level, though none have gained any sort of permanence.

I think it was a stupid idea to use sand for such matters. Concrete blocks should do much better, piles probably being the best option...

[empoweoqwj]

What are entry requirements for Somalia?

Just hire sufficient private security get some land there and settle in.

The entry requirement is to have a fast enough / heavily armed enough boat to get past all those lovely Somalian pirates that love to roam the high seas and plunder whatever they can

[Bitcoin-hotep]

I have heard of a few project to this effect already Ex: BlueSeed

[Bitcoin-hotep]

What are entry requirements for Somalia?

Just hire sufficient private security get some land there and settle in.

The entry requirement is to have a fast enough / heavily armed enough boat to get past all those lovely Somalian pirates that love to roam the high seas and plunder whatever they can

No they plan on having defense measures on the ship and I think they even said something about having landing pads for fighter jets

[Bitcoin-hotep]

Also this is not bitcoin related but could be incorporated into bitcoin philosphy
Lilypad cities that turn sea water into drinking water and sunlight into energy

[Bitcoin-hotep]

Also this was a failed town that was basically "The red light district" and just grew and grew until it was a giant unbelievable structure that could topple at any moment
If we could use their failure to create a better plan then we could probably get something out of this

[coastermonger]

I liked the blueseed idea as well, a seasteading community could be viable if the right suppliers were targeted.  Bitcoin really just needs a stable internet connection to be a viable financial hub, but trips from world port to port could also facilitate trade.  Ideally the platforms could be made of more modular parts that could connect/disconnect at will. 

[bryant.coleman]

What are entry requirements for Somalia?

Just hire sufficient private security get some land there and settle in.

Which Somalian country? There is no unified government in Somalia. Currently it is consisted of a dozen or more "breakaway" states such as Puntland, Somaliland, Jubaland, the region under Al Shabab.etc

Also, knowledge of German language can help in some places:

http://www.thelocal.de/20100523/27373