This month, we cover the dramatic political developments in Venezuela and their implications for Free Cities, announce new speakers for our conference in Próspera, and bring you up to speed on two major seasteading initiatives: LiberArx and ArkPad.
Maduro’s Capture and the Future of CryptoCity
On 3 January 2026, United States forces carried out a major military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation marked a dramatic shift in Venezuela’s political situation and has already begun to reshape expectations about the country’s future direction.
While international observers remain divided over the legitimacy of the operation, many in the business community see the removal of Maduro as opening the door to political stabilization, renewed international engagement, and a more predictable environment for business.
This is especially significant for CryptoCity, one of the flagship projects featured in our Free Communities Directory. We recently spoke with Tim Stern, CEO of CryptoCity, who expressed strong confidence that special economic zones in Venezuela will continue and are likely to thrive under the new conditions. Together with Venezuelan futurist José Cordero, Tim reported a noticeable increase in investor enquiries and early signs of rising property values in areas linked to SEZ activity.
To hear Tim Stern’s update on developments on the ground, listen to our special report from Timothy Allen here.
Maduro transferred to the US to face federal charges
Berlin & London Meetups
In partnership with Próspera, our team kicked off 2026 with two in-person meetups in Berlin and London, each attended by around 60 people.
Both events featured introductory presentations on Próspera, followed by lively Q&A sessions and networking.
Our next meetup will take place in Dubai on 4 February and feature a presentation from our Board Chairman Dr. Titus Gebel. Sign up here.
A goal of both meetups was to raise awareness of the upcoming Free Cities Conference in Próspera, which will take place for the first time inside a functioning Free City this September.
Read on to find out more…
New Speakers Announced: Free Cities Conference
The Free Cities Foundation team has been working hard behind the scenes on preparations for the 2026 Free Cities Conference in Próspera (3–6 September).
Today, we’re pleased to announce our first ten speakers, with more to be shared in the coming weeks.
This year’s conference is especially significant, as it will be the first time the Free Cities Conference has taken place inside a functioning Free City.
Not only will attendees have the chance to learn about more than a dozen of the world’s leading Free City and seasteading projects, they will also get to experience one of the world’s most advanced Special Economic Zones firsthand.
Newly confirmed speakers include:
- Erick Brimen, founder of Próspera, who will share his journey building one of the world’s most advanced Special Economic Zones.
- Niklas Anzinger, Próspera-based founder of Infinita, who will speak about his experience launching the largest venture capital firm inside the zone.
- Oliver Porter, founder of Sandy Springs, Georgia, the first city in the US to outsource the majority of its municipal services, who will tell the story of how a suburban community radically restructured local government.
The conference takes place on Roatán, Honduras, against the backdrop of St John’s Bay, one of the most stunning tropical locations in the Caribbean.
Core activities run from 3–6 September, but we encourage attendees to arrive from 31 August to get acclimatised and take part in additional organised activities.
We have just updated the conference website with more detailed practical information on the schedule, accommodation, and flights.
To find out more about what we’re planning and get tickets, visit: freecitiesconference.com
LiberArx: Be Part of Seasteading History
Followers of the Free Cities Foundation may already be familiar with Atlas Island, an international community focused on seasteading and the creation of voluntary floating societies.
Building on that work, Atlas Island founder Mason has developed LiberArx, a modular vessel design intended to make long-term living at sea accessible even to those without specialist sailing experience.
LiberArx is conceived as a solar-powered, self-sufficient floating home, prioritising personal freedom, mobility, and adaptability. The design features large open interiors and domestic living spaces, with a layout more similar to an apartment than a conventional boat.
The LiberArx team is currently seeking someone to commission the first full-scale prototype, to be built in a Dutch shipyard at an estimated cost of $1.5 million.
Anyone interested in being part of seasteading history by commissioning this first specialist floating home can find out more via the company’s official website: Liberarx or contact Mason directly at: Mason@LiberArx.com.
For a deeper discussion on LiberArx, see Timothy Allen’s conversation with Mason on the Free Cities Podcast.
You can also explore more of the podcast’s recent conversations with Yaron Brook, Rahim Taghizadegan, and Vladimir Leshko here.
ArkPad: From Concept to Cashflow
Seasteading company ArkPad, whose founder Mitchell Suchner received the 2025 Free Cities Conference Innovation Award, continues to expand operations beyond its flagship reef resort near Davao, Philippines.
The existing resort currently operates 14 floating “glamphouses” less than a kilometre offshore, available via Airbnb and other platforms. To date, it has hosted around 3,200 guests, served an estimated 2,500 restaurant customers, and maintains an average rating of 4.7 stars on Airbnb.
A recent video by Filipino travel vlogger Rish Mars (nearly half a million followers) about the resort has generated significant interest.
ArkPad is now planning a second site off the coast of Próspera, Honduras, with construction intended to align with the 2026 Free Cities Conference.
For those interested in ownership, units are available either outright or via fractional shares. Prices start from $45,000 in Davao and $95,000 in Roatán, with fractional ownership available from 1%.
Find out more and register an interest here: Roatan Reef Resort
ArkPad’s reef resort in the Philippines
Keep Up to Date with the World of Seasteading
This month’s newsletter has featured two seasteading updates, and we would also like to take this opportunity to recommend the Seasteading Institute’s newsletter for those interested in following developments in the space more closely.
Subscribers receive a concise, high-quality update from across the global seasteading community once a week on Tuesdays.
We highly recommend joining, especially for readers who want to stay informed about seasteading between our own monthly updates.