From May 8 to 10, the blockchain community gathered in Prague for ETHPrague 2026, one of Europe’s leading Ethereum conferences and hackathons. Held in the city’s magnificent Municipal House, an Art Nouveau landmark known for its architecture and concert hall, the event brought together developers, founders and thinkers from across the decentralized tech world.
As part of the conference, Liberland sponsored a Network State side event at Jam and Co., where guests talked about the future of governance, digital citizenship, and voluntary communities. Among those who joined the dinner and meetup was Vitalik Buterin, whose work has had a profound impact on the development of blockchain technology.
Vitalik introduced Ethereum in 2013 with a simple but revolutionary idea: a blockchain that could do far more than transfer digital currency. By enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications, Ethereum opened the door to entirely new forms of finance, online communities, and governance. Today, it serves as the foundation for decentralized finance, DAOs, NFTs, and many of the innovations that have shaped the broader crypto ecosystem. Buterin has also remained deeply involved in Ethereum’s technical development, including the successful transition to proof-of-stake, which significantly reduced the network’s energy consumption.
During the meetup, Liberland President Vít Jedlička presented Vitalik with Liberland’s highest state distinction, the Order of the Star of Merit. The award recognizes not only his extraordinary technical achievements, but also his role in advancing new ideas about how societies can organize themselves.
President Jedlička presents Vitalik Buterin with Liberland's Order of Merit
In recent years, Vitalik has devoted increasing attention to governance and institution-building. Through his writing and participation in projects such as pop-up cities, decentralized societies, and network states, he has explored how blockchain can help communities coordinate more openly and effectively. These ideas resonate strongly with Liberland’s own experiment in blockchain-based governance and digital citizenship, which seeks to create a transparent and voluntary model of government rooted in individual liberty.
Vitalik has expressed support for Liberland on several occasions, offering messages of encouragement to the community over the years. Liberlanders have also taken part in a number of Vitalik’s pop-up city initiatives, including Zuzalu and related gatherings in Montenegro, Turkey, and Honduras.
Liberland celebrates a shared vision by honoring Vitalik Buterin - using technology to expand human freedom and to experiment with new, more responsive forms of governance for the digital age.
About the Order of Merit
The tradition of awarding national honors dates back to antiquity, when states recognized outstanding achievement, service, and bravery. These distinctions became formalized as orders and medals, reflecting a nation’s highest values.
Founded on April 13, 2015, Liberland draws inspiration from the principles of freedom, free markets, and individual liberty. The Order of Merit recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to these ideals, to the development of Liberland, or to the advancement of liberty more broadly.
Officially known as the First Class Order of Merit of the Star of Liberland, the award was established in 2016. It is symbolized by an eight-pointed star bearing the national seal, suspended on a yellow and black ribbon.
The Order is awarded across a wide range of fields, including public service, entrepreneurship, culture, humanitarian work, and innovation. Recipients are selected by the Government of Liberland, and the award is conferred by the President, who serves as Grand Master of the Order, typically during a public ceremony.