Crypto-Anarchy and Stateless Economies: Legal Implications of Decentralized Political Systems
Keywords:
Crypto-anarchy, stateless economy, blockchain law, decentralized governance, smart contracts, digital identity, legal pluralism, lex cryptographia, DAOs, legal theoryAbstract
This article explores the legal implications of crypto-anarchy and stateless economies in the context of decentralized political and technological systems. Using a scientific narrative review approach with a descriptive analysis method, the study synthesizes interdisciplinary literature published between 2020 and 2024. Sources were drawn from peer-reviewed journals, legal commentaries, and policy papers focusing on decentralization, blockchain governance, and emerging legal frameworks. Data collection included scholarly databases and keyword-based searches targeting crypto-anarchy, decentralized law, DAOs, and blockchain regulation. The review thematically analyzed technological infrastructures, ideological foundations, comparative legal responses, and theoretical frameworks relevant to decentralized systems. The study finds that blockchain technologies—particularly cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and DAOs—enable stateless governance by embedding legal and organizational functions into code. These systems undermine traditional legal concepts such as jurisdiction, enforcement, and sovereignty. Comparative analysis shows wide variation in national responses, ranging from legal adoption to regulatory resistance. Legal conflicts emerge around identity, liability, contract enforceability, and regulatory evasion. Emerging legal paradigms like code-as-law, lex cryptographia, and polycentric legal orders offer alternative models, but they also challenge conventional legal theory. Decentralized political and economic systems are reshaping the legal landscape, demanding a reevaluation of how law is defined, enforced, and legitimized. The evolution of legal thought must align with technological realities, balancing innovation with accountability in a borderless digital world.
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