This month, we look at what the Iran war means for Free Cities, cover Próspera’s new $5,000 flat-tax residency program, and report on a bitcoin billionaire’s proposal to pay every citizen of Nevis $100 a month.
Can startup cities defend themselves? Dubai has the answer
Vera Kichanova writes from Dubai for the Free Cities Foundation blog, making the case that the Iran war is proving the resilience of small, commercially oriented jurisdictions. The UAE’s air defenses have intercepted the overwhelming majority of incoming missiles and drones and, although schools remain on remote learning, commercial life has continued. Her broader argument: small jurisdictions with a successful economic model can punch well above their weight when it comes to defense. Free Cities will be able to do the same.
Community developer adopts bitcoin treasury strategy
Veritas Villages’ Playa Pacifica community in Nicaragua
Bitcoin treasury companies have had a mixed run lately. Some have built genuine value by accumulating bitcoin on their balance sheets; others have leveraged up at the wrong time. A new piece on the Free Cities Foundation blog by board member Alex Voss argues that Autris (OTC: AUTR) offers something more grounded: a company building freedom-focused, self-sustainable communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, with bitcoin integrated as part of the underlying strategy (rather than being the whole of it).
Próspera’s $5,000 tax residency: how to apply
Próspera has launched a tax residency program aimed at globally mobile professionals, and the terms are simpler than most. There are four requirements: pay a flat $5,000 per year, after which your income tax liability is capped with no further obligations; spend at least seven days per calendar year physically in Próspera (attending the Free Cities Conference in September counts toward this!); establish a business entity within the zone (can be done remotely); and have no tax residency elsewhere. That’s it. Full details at imidaily.com. To apply, email hello@nomadlayer.com.
Conference ticket prices rise April 30
The 2026 Free Cities Conference takes place in Próspera, Roatán, from September 3 to 6. Regular tickets are $319 and rise to $359 at the end of this month. On-site accommodation at Las Verandas and Duna Tower is limited and filling quickly.
We’ve also updated plans for Ciudad Morazán. Rather than a ticketed excursion, the Morazán team are inviting you to take part in a site tour, their quarterly town hall meeting, and a community barbecue on September 2. There is no longer a paid ticket, you simply cover your own transport and food. Overnight stays within Ciudad Morazán are available for a limited number of participants. Activities are scheduled so you can arrive in Roatán in time for the start of the core conference program on September 3 afternoon. To learn more and register your interest while there is still space visit: https://morazanexcursion.
Secure your conference place at freecitiesconference.com.
A bold experiment in Nevis
Conceptual rendering of Destiny in Nevis
Destiny is the brainchild of Belgian bitcoin investor Olivier Janssens, who is proposing to build a large-scale community on Nevis’ southern coast, operating under its own governance framework. Janssens recently announced that, as part of the deal, every citizen of Nevis would receive $100 per month, equivalent to $4,800 a year for a family of four. The project is raising questions about what is constitutionally possible for the island, which has its own assembly and significant autonomy within the Saint Kitts and Nevis federation. Full reporting at IMI Daily.
Events and opportunities
Free Commune plans to revitalise an abandoned village in Northern Spain
The Free Commune of Penadexo is seeking volunteers for a summer work program at its village restoration project in Spain, ahead of the Festival Santito on July 25. Find out more.
Alexander McCobin, co-founder of Students for Liberty, has launched a new philanthropic venture called Breakthrough Builders, backing early-stage social ventures through a seed fund. For more information, contact: info@libertyventuresnetwork.
Podcast roundup
We have released three new podcast episodes since our last newsletter. In episode 175, The Last Free Place, Oswald Horowitz traced the story of Italian entrepreneur Samuele Landi, who attempted to live entirely outside conventional jurisdictions on a barge in international waters. In episode 176, Why Everything Feels Broken, former UK government adviser James Price gave a frank account of bureaucratic overstretch and the gap between what political institutions promise and what they can deliver. Episode 177, The Próspera Master Plan, features Próspera co-founder Gabriel Delgado-Ayau. He traces the startup city’s journey from its early days to its long-term vision, and explains how its governance framework could serve as a template for other jurisdictions.
Catch up on all three at fountain.fm.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there is a lot happening across the Free Cities movement. If you want to find out more, there is no better way than joining us at the conference in Próspera this September. You will be able to meet the people behind the stories in this newsletter, and experience a pioneering Free City first hand. Visit freecitiesconference.com for details—we hope to see you there.