A group of technology billionaires are advancing the idea that future governance and financial systems will be driven by technology rather than traditional governments and banking institutions. Some of these entrepreneurs have taken concrete steps by establishing libertarian micro-nations that emphasize minimal regulation and taxation, catering predominantly to wealthy individuals.
Filmmaker Matt Shea gained rare access to several of the world’s richest tech figures for a BBC documentary titled *The Tech Billionaire Takeover*. The film explores how these billionaires are shaping society’s future and their vision of governance through decentralized technology.
Among those featured is Justin Sun, founder of blockchain company Tron, which debuted on the Nasdaq in July 2025. Estimated to have a net worth of £6.4 billion, Sun anticipates a world where blockchain and other technologies will replace elections and banking systems entirely. Alongside other high-net-worth investors, Sun has launched a micro-nation called Liberland, situated on an island in the Danube River between Croatia and Hungary. The project, backed by around 30 billionaires, is managed as a meritocratic republic leveraging blockchain for governance. Led by Czech right-libertarian politician Vit Jedlicka, residents can vote for leaders, but those with the most “merits” exercise greater influence.
Ivan Pernar, Liberland’s interior minister, described the micro-nation as ideologically driven, attracting individuals who prioritize freedom and decentralized finance. Pernar emphasized that the project is selective, arguing that unrestricted migration would lead to undesired outcomes, drawing a comparison with the United Kingdom. “Liberty for a select few,” he said, believing that economic freedom is a prerequisite for true liberty.
Venture capitalist Tim Draper, known for Draper University, affirmed the potential for alternative power models enabled by technology. He noted that governments have historically provided expensive services with suboptimal results. Draper sees innovations like Bitcoin, blockchain, and smart contracts facilitating the rise of decentralized autonomous nations that could supplant traditional governance and banking structures over time.
The documentary also explores connections between the crypto industry and U.S. political figures. Sun maintains ties with the family of former President Donald Trump and is the largest investor in World Liberty Financial, a platform intended to integrate cryptocurrencies with conventional banking, run by members of the Trump family, including Donald Trump Jr. Prior to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursued a civil lawsuit against Sun, alleging fraud in manipulating cryptocurrency trades. Following a change in SEC leadership after Trump took office, the charges were dropped and resolved with a £7.5 million settlement. Sun had invested £56 million in the Trump family’s business but later publicly parted ways with World Liberty Financial.
The film also highlights Changpeng Zhao, often known as CZ, co-founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Despite being jailed in 2024 for money laundering violations, Binance facilitated a transaction last year involving an Emirati royal family-linked company, conducted through the cryptocurrency owned by World Liberty Financial. This arrangement is estimated to generate £30 to £60 million annually for the Trump family enterprise. CZ was pardoned by Trump in October 2025, though the former president has claimed to have no knowledge of the case.
Shea summarizes his observations by noting that many of these tech billionaires seek to dismantle existing economic and political frameworks. He raises questions about their motivations, emphasizing that wealth and power appear to consolidate among those who control the underlying technology.