As Frontier Tower grows, Network States take root in San Francisco

Diamond Rhino

0:00

-52:54

As Frontier Tower grows, Network States take root in San Francisco

On-chain hasn't just gotten IRL on the West Coast — it's got property now.

Brady Dale

Feb 01, 2026

Images from *Amazing Stories #54* (1950) and *Wonder Comics #13* (1947)

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Today’s show is about a new outpost of crypto culture in San Francisco, where the idea of “Network States” has taken up permanent residence. Some entrepreneurs from Germany have purchased a 16-storey building and they are turning it into their first outpost of a nation of frontier nomads they hope to expand all over the world, ultimately enlisting 13 million citizens.

It’s called Frontier Tower. It’s not even a year old, but it’s going strong.

Have you heard about the robot fight clubs? Have you heard about Chinese peptide raves? Those were at Frontier Tower.

And this thing wants to go over all the world.

This is a story where crypto wealth meets urban downtowns in transition and the continued push and pull of visionary tech types and normie neighbors.

For me, this caught my attention because I started as a journalist covering innovation in cities. So obviously a startup experimenting in reviving the way urban areas work is going to grab me.

And the whole vibe is extremely crypto. So tune in for another exploration of crypto culture, and let me know what you think.