Bitcoin Book Club: Free Private Cities
Join the Bitcoin District Book Club! We meet every month to explore new and exciting rabbit holes by reading books that are popular with bitcoiners.
Join us for a deep dive into Free Private Cities: Making Governments Compete For You by Titus Gebel. Building on our discussion of The Network State, we'll explore another radical approach to rethinking how communities and governments could be organized.
Gebel proposes "Free Private Cities"—communities where a private company provides governance services under a contractual agreement with residents. Instead of relying on political promises, residents would know in advance what services they receive, what they pay, and what rights and obligations apply.
We'll discuss whether competition and voluntary participation can produce better governance, how private cities might work in practice, and what role Bitcoin could play in communities built around individual sovereignty and freedom of choice.
Whether you see private cities as a realistic alternative to traditional governments or an ambitious experiment, Free Private Cities offers a provocative framework for thinking about governance, competition, and the right to exit.
Get the book here.
Event Notes:
Discussion Starters: We'll kick things off with a few key questions around private cities, competitive governance, individual sovereignty, and the right to exit, but feel free to bring your own perspectives.
Future Reads: Let us know if you have recommendations for future book club selections! We'll add them to the list posted on our website.
Afterwards: Feel free to join us at PubKey after the meeting to hang out, continue the conversation, and grab some food!
Getting There:
📍 Teaism – Penn Quarter
🔴🟢🟡 Gallery Place/Chinatown + 2 min walk
Parking: Street & garage parking available nearby