zuzalu

Following a 2021 blog post called Crypto-Cities and another about Network States by Vitalik Buterin, Zuzalu was an experiment in co-living established in 2023 in Montenegro, combining elements of tech conferences, hacker houses, and intentional communities. The project hosted 200 residents from diverse regions and fields for a two-month period "to blend a variety of cultures fostering an environment where innovative experiments could make positive impacts on the world."

Legacy

Vitalik wrote about his Zuzalu experience in an article, Why I Built Zuzalu.

Zuzalu has inspired a series of other Pop-Ups, notably the Chiang Mai Archipelago 2024 which had over a dozen experimental pop-up villages in the same vicinity. The second major Zuzalu event was ZuConnect in Istanbul (Oct–Nov 2023).

Future

Zuzalu has incorporated as a non-profit providing funding for related projects and is aiming to loosely define what is a ZuVillage.

Reflections (2025)

In a December 2025 essay, Let a thousand societies bloom, Vitalik distilled lessons from the original experiment and subsequent popups:

"200 people (roughly Dunbar's number) is an excellent size for a popup... 1-2 months is an excellent duration for a popup. The reason is that the duration affects the attitude that people have: a week is a break from your life, two months is your life."

"What you want is 'a college at 25% intensity': enough to stimulate people, but not enough to tire people out."

"The most sustainable approach that I have discovered is what we did in Chiang Mai, where 5-10 popups, each independently bringing 30-300 people, co-located in the same city around the same time."

Content ^1^

Core Components

Co-creation

Open shared calendar where any participant can post events such as:
- Technical workshops
- Research presentations
- Physical activities (hikes, cold plunges)
- Cultural events (tea ceremonies, dance parties)
- Skill-sharing sessions (martial arts, parkour)
Mix of structured and spontaneous activities
Strong emphasis on wellness and personal growth
Cross-pollination of ideas and skills
Formation of lasting friendships and professional networks
Pet projects (like caring for "Zuzu" the injured puppy)

Coliving

~150 long-term residents (matching Dunbar's number)
Organic formation of "group houses" (2-10 people)
Shared coworking spaces, meals and social activities
Movie nights and informal gatherings
Community facilities
Focus on holistic well-being (physical, mental, career, community)
Lasting relationships that extend beyond the event
Some unique living spaces (including boats as group houses)
Exposure to diverse perspectives
Skill-sharing and learning opportunities
Network building
Lifestyle experimentation
Project development opportunities
Access to feedback and collaboration
Real-world testing ground for ideas
Connection to innovation communities

Coworking

Central quiet co-working space
Additional work areas in cafes and shared spaces
Regular hackathons aligned with weekly themes
Informal collaboration opportunities
Project incubation environment

Curation

Referral based invitation system
8 core organizers, each inviting ~15 residents
Each resident can invite 2 guests
Additional residents chosen through application process
Track leads influence attendee/speaker selection
Focus on maintaining community standards
Balanced approach to conflict resolution

Typical Day

Morning: Wellness activities
Daytime: Work and workshops
Evening: Social events and community gatherings
Flexible schedule allowing for personal choice

Topics

Weekly themes
- Synthetic biology, longevity, public goods, zero knowledge, new cities/network-states, AI
Weekend conferences aligned with weekly themes
Rotating guests, speakers, and topics

Values

Authentic Kindness
Mutual Respect
Personal Growth
Freedom

Community Governance

Informal leadership structures
Community-driven decision making
Focus on experimentation with social structures
Emphasis on personal autonomy

Notable Innovations

Zupass: Identity system using zero-knowledge proofs
Community Structure: Blend of planned and bottom-up organization
Dining: Longevity-focused meal program based on Bryan Johnson's Blueprint

Demographics

Internationally diverse (no country >33% of attendees)
Primary demographics: young professionals, digital nomads, focused on innovative tech fields

Challenges and Considerations

Balancing local integration with temporary community
Managing group dynamics
Sustainability of the model
Accessibility and inclusivity
Cultural sensitivity in different locations