In Life-Imitates-Snow-Crash News…

E-residency: The power to choose your nation

At the time of writing, the e-residency project has just come out of its beta stage and has been fully live for two months. During the 60 days more than 4,000 people have signed up to become members, doubling the target number that was set for twelve months. Kotka may be getting carried away when he suggests that “hundreds of thousands, or millions will come after three or four years” but there is an element of truth to his words when he says that the scheme has “already found its place in history”.

By paying a paltry 50 euro fee anyone, anywhere in the world, is able to become an e-Estonian. You don’t become a resident of the country and it doesn’t allow any rights to move to the country, but it allows you to become a digital citizen and, as such, removes some national borders.

I’m looking forward to a future where I can use an app to gain citizenship to Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong or, at least become an annoying Brooklynite without having to move to Brooklyn. Plus you know that Elon Musk is eyeing Sealand for his startup virtual nation-state.