PROJECTS
BlockchainGov investigates different worlds at the intersection of decentralized technologies and law.
This section organizes our content in eight thematic cores: click on the topics to deep dive.
Network sovereignties are forms of authority exercised through control over digital infrastructure, protocols, and technical standards rather than territorial jurisdiction.
As digital networks reshape how communities organize, coordinate, and govern themselves, new forms of sovereignty emerge that operate beyond, and alongside, traditional state structures.
BlockchainGov has built this research arena through interdisciplinary work, including research publications, cross-sector symposia, ongoing podcast conversations, and the development of Network Nations as a practical framework.
Websites
- Networknations.network (the main hub for the Network Nations project/alliance):
https://networknations.network/
Includes the key essay, podcast episodes, principles, and alliance info - SOAM Network Sovereignties ( residency/program focused on network sovereignties):
https://soam.earth/ - Network Nation Substack
(This is the archive hub for the Network Nations Alliance. It collects conceptual pieces, updates on pilots, theory-to-practice discussions, and community explorations.)
https://networknations.substack.com/
Articles
- De Filippi, P., Beer, F. (2025) “Network Nations: Reclaiming Sovereignty in the Digital Age” (introductory article)
- Schingler, J. K., & De Filippi, P. (2026, February 2). Meta jurisdictions. Network Nations. https://networknations.substack.com/p/meta-jurisdictions
Symposium
All pieces are hosted under: https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states
- Primavera De Filippi — Introduction – New Network Sovereignties: the rise of non-territorial states?
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/introduction-new-network-sovereignties/ - Vitalik Buterin — Network sovereignties are at least four different concepts in one category
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states-3/ - Michel Bauwens — Network sovereignties in the context of macrohistorical patterns
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states-4/ - Nathan Schneider — Notes on old religion for new network sovereigns
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states-5/ - Gilad Abiri — Building and sustaining new network sovereignties
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/building-and-sustaining-new-network-sovereignties/ - Jonathan Hillis — Functional local and network sovereignties
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/functional-local-network-sovereignties/ - Igor Calzada — (Libertarian) decentralised Web3 map: in search of a post-Westphalian territory
https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/project/new-network-sovereignties-the-rise-of-non-territorial-states/libertarian-decentralised-web3-map-in-search-of-a-post-westphalian-territory/
Podcasts
- Ep:1 – Building Trust at Scale — A New Season with Primavera & Felix Beer (Oct 24, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zOcNq2ztMvu2ZvSspCqsr - Ep:2 – Memes & Narratives (with Douglas Rushkoff & Jordan Hall, Oct 31, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6k5LRZnMSp5i7KxwcbZXeI - Ep:3 – Commons, Mutualism & Entanglement: Building the Foundation of Network Nations (Nov 7, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MW7IGzRKZzai6DXDov61d - Ep:4 – Entanglement: Building Voluntary Interdependencies (Nov 14, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/646H5fe3lrQ5EwdhRQ0DOx - Ep:5 – What Makes a Nation? Identity, Belonging & Digital Communities (Nov 21, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iAOOMU2hxGfdVyIjin9vu - Ep:6 – Regen: Toward a Network Nation Identity, Commons & Collective Agency (Nov 28, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dOv9xWdxBHjHTNK6Zs4yJ - Ep:7 – Meta-Politics: Designing Digital Environments for Civic Power (with Audrey Tang & Nathan Schneider, ~Dec 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/48oyNRsxtq3jUSlEVP9Dyp?si=80b0b6b609f04f10 - Ep:8 – Functional Sovereignty: Can Network Nations Self-Govern Without Land? (Dec 18, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4yFpRRwMrAc30QpzIw4hft - Ep:9 – A New Political Landscape in the Digital Age (with Nick Srnicek & Sofia Cossar, Dec 19, 2025)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/24FbJIttyUXVudtMzr1wUM - Ep:10 – Burning Man: Seeding a Network Nation (Jan 2, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5z2ffr6Ifh5rYoL9U4wT9e - Ep:11 – Let a Thousand Societies Bloom (with Vitalik Buterin, Jan 9, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FFTmdn7pj6GFknnfODVcF - Ep:12 – From politics to protocols to protocol politics (with Santiago Siri, Jan 16, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bsZAiQ6EsQJi1zrmJVHNZ - Ep:13 – Intentional Communities & New Jurisdictions (with Jessy Kate Schingler, Jan 23, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yTQCreVc817cGqGvfg4Jx - Ep:14 – Networked Diasporas: The Case of SeeDAO (with Helena Rong, Jan 30, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2DeTD7iy5yJH5sqFf0EAUj - Ep:15 – Catalysing Network Nations: Movement Building (with Benjamin Life & Patricia Parkinson, Feb 6, 2026)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jgFDyeKpyua370PBwmHXyThe Blockchain Socialist Overthrowing the Network State
- Ep:1 – Building Trust at Scale — A New Season with Primavera & Felix Beer (Oct 24, 2025)
- Overthrowing The Network State: An Initial Critique and Alternatives (Jan 29, 2023)
Hosts: Josh Dávila (The Blockchain Socialist) + Primavera De Filippi.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-an-initial-critique-and-alternatives/
- Overthrowing The Network State: An Initial Critique and Alternatives (Jan 29, 2023)
- Overthrowing The Network State: Forming New Publics and Pluralism with Glen Weyl (Feb 4, 2023)
Guest: Glen Weyl.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-forming-new-publics-and-pluralism-with-glen-weyl/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Survival of the Richest with Douglas Rushkoff (Feb 12, 2023)
Guest: Douglas Rushkoff.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-survival-of-the-richest/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Untangling Balaji’s Helical Theory of History (Feb 26, 2023)
Guests: Kelsie Nabben + Quinn DuPont.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-untangling-balajis-helical-theory-of-history/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Colonize the Memes, the Narratives, and the Land (Mar 5, 2023)
Guest: Raymond Craib (with Primavera De Filippi & Morshed Mannan).
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-colonize-the-memes-the-narratives-and-the-land/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Dictatorship by Tech CEO with Nathan Schneider (Mar 12, 2023)
Guest: Nathan Schneider.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/overthrowing-the-network-state-dictatorship-by-tech-ceo-with-nathan-schneider/ - Overthrowing The Network State: How to Optimize for Reality (Mar 23, 2023)
Guest: Michael Zargham.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-how-to-optimize-for-reality/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Maximum Freedom in Complex Social Organizations (Apr 2, 2023)
Guest: Eric Alston.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-maximum-freedom-in-complex-social-organizations/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Institutional Design and Recognizing the Value of Politics (Apr 16, 2023)
Guest: Jason Potts.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-institutional-design-and-recognizing-the-value-of-politics/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Critiques and Alternatives from a Former Professional Libertarian (Apr 23, 2023)
Guest: Chris Berg.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-critiques-and-alternatives-from-a-former-professional-libertarian/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Network States is what you get when you have VC-brain (May 14, 2023)
Guest: Jahed Monand (with Primavera De Filippi & Tara Merk).
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-network-states-is-what-you-get-when-you-have-vc-brain/ - Overthrowing The Network State: DAOs and Decentralized Mafias (May 21, 2023)
Guest: Ameen Soleimani.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-daos-and-decentralized-mafias/ - Overthrowing The Network State: The Rise of Coordi-Nations (Phase 2 has begun) (Jun 11, 2023)
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-the-rise-of-coordi-nations-phase-2-has-begun/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Cosmo-Localism, Beyonders, and the Medieval Parallels to Digital Nomadism (Jul 2, 2023)
Guest: Michel Bauwens.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-cosmo-localism-beyonders-and-the-medieval-parallels-to-digital-nomadism/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Is Code still Law? (Interview with Lawrence Lessig) (Aug 27, 2023)
Guest: Lawrence Lessig.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/is-code-still-law-interview-with-lawrence-lessig/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Scaling Collective Action for Millions of People (Oct 1, 2023)
Guest: Matan Field.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-scaling-collective-action-for-millions-of-people/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Transitioning ReFi DAO to a Coordi-Nation (Oct 22, 2023)
Guest: Monty Merlin Bryant.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-transitioning-refi-dao-to-a-coordi-nation/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Prophets are dangerous and Capital doesn’t care about your feelings (Nov 6, 2023)
Guest: Wassim Alsindi.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-prophets-are-dangerous-and-capital-doesnt-care-about-your-feelings/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Is Praxis a bunch of fascists dressed as libertarians? (Jan 7, 2024)
Guest: Ali Breland.
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-is-praxis-a-bunch-of-fascists-dressed-as-libertarians/ - Overthrowing The Network State: Mutualism, labor unions and cooperatives (not charity) (Apr 21, 2024)
https://theblockchainsocialist.com/otns-mutualism-labor-unions-and-cooperatives-not-charity/
- Overthrowing The Network State: Forming New Publics and Pluralism with Glen Weyl (Feb 4, 2023)
Linktrees
- https://linktr.ee/networksovereignties (links to the symposium, Blockchain Socialist episode “Overthrowing The Network State”, Zuzalu videos, workshop papers on network sovereignties, etc.)
- https://linktr.ee/networknations (links to the podcasts, symposium, substack, etc.)
BLOCKCHAIN CONSTITUTIONALISM
Blockchains are space for new forms of governance. They typically rely on the idea that “code is law” and that rules can be encoded in automatic smart contracts. But in recent years, formal written documents have emerged as a decision-making tool that articulates additional rules and principles regarding the governance of the blockchain-based system. These “off-chain constitutions” are among the most interesting phenomena within the governance space.
Blockchain Governance | MIT Press Essential Knowledge Volume
Blockchain Governance By Primavera de Fillippi, Wessel Reijers, Morshed Mannan An engaging and comprehensive exploration of how fundamental ideas in political and legal thought shape the governance of blockchain communities,
The Blockchain Governance Toolkit – A Cookbook for a Resilient and Robust Ecosystem
The Blockchain Governance Toolkit – A Cookbook for a Resilient and Robust Ecosystem Download the report here. BlockchainGov works to support and guide decentralized communities in the process of choosing and
Interim Report on Blockchain Governance
Interim Report on Blockchain Governance Practices Download the report here. As decentralized technologies such as blockchain rapidly evolve, establishing effective governance models is crucial to guide stakeholders towards a sustainable and
Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems
Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems Primavera de Filippi, Morshed Mannan, Kelsie Nabben, Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk, Silke Noa, Marco Crepaldi, Joshua
Deeply intertwined with the ideas of Consitutionalism, we develop an understanding of blockchain as polycentryc systems. We research governance mechanisms that harness the inherent complexity of polycentric systems, enhancing our understanding of how blockchain systems must navigate multi-level governance, accommodate diverse interests, while allowing for adaptive and distributed decision-making processes.
Exit to Community (E2C) is a strategy to transition founder and investor led projects into community owned and governed organizations. It is similar to the concept of progressive decentralization in Web3, but explicitly seeks to realize outcomes that are aligned with cooperative values and principles.
The project was initially introduced by Nathan Schneider and a group of activist organizers in 2019. In 2021 Morshed Mannan and Nathan outlined pathways to realize E2C in the platform economy and included the possibility of transitioning into a DAO.
Since 2021, BlockchainGov has worked with various pilot communities in the blockchain industry who were in the process of transitioning into DAOs or had recently done so. Many of our insights are recorded in Tara Merk’s PhD thesis, which focuses on how the process of E2C unfolds and the various challenges and potential pitfalls it may entail. We continue to work on the topic, with the aim of advancing the concept and issuing practical advice to blockchain projects on the path to meaningful decentralization.
Mannan & Schneider (2021) Exit to Community: Strategies for multi-stakeholder ownership in the platform economy
Podcast: Web3 Workers Rights, Exit to Community, and Solidarity Primixtives
Merk, T. (2024) “Why to DAO? A narrative analysis of the drivers of tokenized Exit to Community” in Proceedings of the European DAO Workshop, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.14327
Merk, T. (2024). “Metagov Spotlight: Exit to Community Calculators”, published on the Metagovernance Project blog.
Merk, T., & Mam, J. (2022). “Introducing the DADA Exit to Community” in Dada.art.
Deeply intertwined with the ideas of Consitutionalism, we develop an understanding of blockchain as polycentryc systems. We research governance mechanisms that harness the inherent complexity of polycentric systems, enhancing our understanding of how blockchain systems must navigate multi-level governance, accommodate diverse interests, while allowing for adaptive and distributed decision-making processes.
Deeply intertwined with the ideas of Consitutionalism, we develop an understanding of blockchain as polycentryc systems. We research governance mechanisms that harness the inherent complexity of polycentric systems, enhancing our understanding of how blockchain systems must navigate multi-level governance, accommodate diverse interests, while allowing for adaptive and distributed decision-making processes.
Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a scientific research methodology that starts from the premise that the best way to understand a system is trying to change it.
BlockchainGov works with various pilots with the objective to empower communities by helping them acquire more knowledge and awareness about their own governance needs and design, and let them take action to change the system if they desire to do so. The basis of this work is ethnographic research. Here, BlockchainGov acts as participant observers and observant participants within the pilots, providing in-depth, context-sentitive reflections. BlockchainGov supports in designing change programmes and evaluating their effect. In line with PAR principles, this work is done with communities, rather than on or for them.
Merk, T., Cossar, S., & Kamalova, J(2023) Ethnographic Research of Proof of Humanity DAO.. Available here (English) or here (Spanish)
Cossar, S., Kamalova, J., Merk, T., “Ethnographic Research of the Proof of Humanity DAO: Community Fork and Governance” presentation at Metagov Seminar. 15/03/2023 (online)
Mannan, M., De Filippi, P., and Merk, T. (2025) The interplay between loyalty and legitimacy in blockchain-based metaverses: the case of Decentraland in Information, Communication & Society.
Mannan, M., De Filippi, P., & Merk, T. (2024). “Legitimacy in the Metaverse: The Case of Decentraland” presentation at the 7th Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop, 19 June 2024.
Merk, T. (2023), ‘Beyond markets: The DADA case for NFTs in art’, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, 21:1, pp. 73–89, https://doi.org/10.1386/tear_00098_1
Merk, T. “Beyond markets: the DADAist case for NFTs in art”, presented at MoneyLab #13, Limassol, Cyprus. 2-3 November 2023
Merk, T. (2024). The unusual DAO: An ethnography of building trust in “trustless” spaces. Internet Policy Review, 13(3).
Merk, T., & Mam, J. (2022). “Introducing the DADA Exit to Community” in Dada.art.
THEORY
Legitimacy, Trust & confidence, Polycentricity
BlockchainGov Scientific Publications 2024
Scientific Publications 2024 Our team has worked on extensive academic research throughout the year, including ethnographic research on DAOs, governance disputes, AI system dissection, and more. Here is a complete
Research Report on Blockchain Governance Dynamics
Report on Blockchain Governance Dynamics Download the report here. As decentralized technologies such as blockchain rapidly evolve, establishing effective governance models is crucial to guide stakeholders toward a sustainable and equitable
Blockchain Governance | MIT Press Essential Knowledge Volume
Blockchain Governance By Primavera de Fillippi, Wessel Reijers, Morshed Mannan An engaging and comprehensive exploration of how fundamental ideas in political and legal thought shape the governance of blockchain communities,
Blockchain Technology and Polycentric Governance – A research report
Blockchain Technology and Polycentric Governance – A Research Report Download the report here. This report, released in its final version in July 2024, addresses the polycentric governance of blockchain systems, following
The Blockchain Governance Toolkit – A Cookbook for a Resilient and Robust Ecosystem
The Blockchain Governance Toolkit – A Cookbook for a Resilient and Robust Ecosystem Download the report here. BlockchainGov works to support and guide decentralized communities in the process of choosing and
Coordi-nations: A New Institutional Structure for Global Cooperation
Coordi-nation: A New Institutional Structure for Global Cooperation Primavera de Filippi and Jessy Kate Schingler, June 13, 2023. Introduction Networked communications have enabled new ways for people to coordinate
Proof of Humanity: Ethnographic Research of a “democratic” DAO
Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk. In early 2021, the first Sybil-resistant registry of humans was launched. The Proof of Humanity (PoH) registry and the PoH DAO is the first
Interim Report on Blockchain Governance
Interim Report on Blockchain Governance Practices Download the report here. As decentralized technologies such as blockchain rapidly evolve, establishing effective governance models is crucial to guide stakeholders towards a sustainable and
Adaptive Governance for Blockchain Networks
Adaptive Governance for Blockchain Networks Esen Esener This research investigates adaptive governance for blockchain networks within the context of legal resilience by looking at the current regulatory trends in two
ERC Scientific Report – 18 Months
18 Months of ERC Grant – Bits from the Scientific Report In 2023, BlokchainGov completed the first half of the three-year-long ERC grant. We were requested to report the achievements
Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems
Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems Primavera de Filippi, Morshed Mannan, Kelsie Nabben, Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk, Silke Noa, Marco Crepaldi, Joshua
Blog Posts 2022-2023
Blog Posts 2022-2023 Our researchers’ network is publishing its work not only in academic journals but all around the Web. Here you can find a list of the most relevant
This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The BlockchainGov project has been funded by an European Research Council Grant.