Although he regards the media as one half of ‘The Cathedral’ — the repressive ideological bloc he believes is comprised of journalists and academics who covertly steer Western society — he consents to meet me in Berkeley, California. During a brief hike, Yarvin, who resembles an aging punk rocker, delivers circuitous, elaborate narratives that invoke obscure texts and historical periods to substantiate his arguments.
In our discussion, he details his ‘Patchwork’ theory, which envisions the replacement of nation‑states with a global constellation of sovereign micro‑states owned by shareholders and competing for citizens much like corporations vie for customers. He contends that blockchain technology can realize this vision, giving rise to ‘corporate monarchies’ ruled by ‘CEO‑kings’ who answer to a concealed board of shareholders. These entities could, he suggests, exert control over the military and police through a so‑called ‘crypto dingus’ capable of effectively disabling firearms.
Many of these tech billionaires regard the Trump administration and its institutions as antiquated, destined to be supplanted by their superior technological solutions. My interactions with them have increasingly led me to perceive them as the true wielders of power.
The crypto lobby has now eclipsed the fossil‑fuel industry as the most influential lobbying force in the United States, having donated $238 million in the most recent election cycle, according to Fox Business. Yarvin, Sun, Draper, and Liberland together illustrate the future some of these visionaries anticipate.
Figureheads such as Justin Sun, the founder of Liberland, and venture‑capitalist Tim Draper repeatedly asserted that blockchain and cryptocurrency would free money from governmental oversight. Yet each case ultimately concentrates wealth and authority in the hands of those who master the technology.