We build technological and legal foundations for digital sovereignty that empower people to grow strong, self-governing communities while helping states become more transparent, efficient and resilient.
Using a holistic approach, MetaState builds a future where people form strong, self-governing communities, enabling governments, businesses, and citizens to collaborate more efficiently by rebalancing their roles and resources.
We make this possible through the use of the Web 3.0 Data Space architecture, which separates data from platforms to ensure digital sovereignty and seamless interaction across all participants with uncompromising security.
We work proactively with the European Commission to establish a forward-looking legal framework that recognizes and leverages this model.
We collaborate with established businesses, platforms, and emerging startups from the outset to ensure smooth implementation at scale.
The project is already underway, with the first prototype launching in fall 2025.
We make this possible through the use of the Web 3.0 Data Space architecture, which separates data from platforms to ensure digital sovereignty and seamless interaction across all participants with uncompromising security.
We work proactively with the European Commission to establish a forward-looking legal framework that recognizes and leverages this model.
We collaborate with established businesses, platforms, and emerging startups from the outset to ensure smooth implementation at scale.
The project is already underway, with the first prototype launching in fall 2025.
Blueprint
Technology, Legitimacy & Real-World Integration
Imagine a world where people gain a superpower to bypass the natural limits of human coordination: the long ramp-ups to build trust, align meaning, or keep teams cohesive as they grow really large. Imagine we started to understand each other better, negotiate faster, and unite more effectively.
Science fiction? Not at all, if we support people’s ability to communicate and form communities with the right digital infrastructure. Today’s internet wasn’t built for that — but it can be redesigned.
With such enhancement:
MetaState unlocks this superpower through a holistic combination of technical, legal, and organizational innovations — all rooted in one simple but far-reaching idea: sovereign digital selves for people and communities. The first prototype will be available this autumn.
Science fiction? Not at all, if we support people’s ability to communicate and form communities with the right digital infrastructure. Today’s internet wasn’t built for that — but it can be redesigned.
With such enhancement:
- People team up on the fly — from tailored crews focused on specific problems to global coalitions addressing real-world challenges
- Large groups have transparent governance and reliable tools for coordination, like identity and reputation management, charters and voting, which allows them to collaborate on equals with governments in certain tasks
- Individual skills and interests are perfectly matched with the right teams and jobs
- People can exchange value beyond salaries or invoices — even with strangers — thanks to verified trust and reputation, enabling a community economy.
- Citizens can easily join local groups and get involved in community life on daily basis — strengthening participatory democracy.
MetaState unlocks this superpower through a holistic combination of technical, legal, and organizational innovations — all rooted in one simple but far-reaching idea: sovereign digital selves for people and communities. The first prototype will be available this autumn.
Vision
Limitless cohesion as the foundation for future communities
Human strength lies in our ability to form complex social structures. We learned to unite into states, ending the medieval wars of everyone against everyone. With democracy, we found ways to govern society more efficiently, driving unprecedented progress over the past 200 years. We expected digital technologies to take this even further — unlocking new levels of efficiency and enabling more sophisticated social connections.
Instead, we’re stitching together chats across messengers, juggling endless accounts, trying to guess who’s a bot and who’s real — all while trapped in social-media echo chambers and platform walls where an Uber rider never sees a Lyft driver.
This isn't just messy — it's disempowering. Individual agency scattered across thousands of disconnected systems — from government registries to private platforms — multiple logins, outdated records, mismatched profiles. Bureaucracies, autocracies, and corporations gain control simply because they own the registries.
Reactive regulations like GDPR, KYC, or the AI Act introduce friction without addressing the root cause: the lack of legal and recognized personal agency in the digital world. Without it, the foundations of a digital society remain broken.
We can’t build the future on fragmented identity and commodified data.
Instead, we’re stitching together chats across messengers, juggling endless accounts, trying to guess who’s a bot and who’s real — all while trapped in social-media echo chambers and platform walls where an Uber rider never sees a Lyft driver.
This isn't just messy — it's disempowering. Individual agency scattered across thousands of disconnected systems — from government registries to private platforms — multiple logins, outdated records, mismatched profiles. Bureaucracies, autocracies, and corporations gain control simply because they own the registries.
Reactive regulations like GDPR, KYC, or the AI Act introduce friction without addressing the root cause: the lack of legal and recognized personal agency in the digital world. Without it, the foundations of a digital society remain broken.
We can’t build the future on fragmented identity and commodified data.
Problem
People lack agency in the balkanized digital world
Sovereign digital self for people, communities and organizations
In complex systems, changing a single core principle can lead to systemic transformation. In a digitally accelerated society, the key to unlocking human potential for better collaboration and governance isn’t smarter algorithms or stricter regulation — it’s giving people something they’ve never truly had online: identity, agency, and control over their data.
That’s where the digital self comes in. It includes:
The idea of sovereign digital self — first proposed by Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee — seems natural and simple at first. But turning it into reality requires a complex, systemic implementation across technology, law, society, and business.
In complex systems, changing a single core principle can lead to systemic transformation. In a digitally accelerated society, the key to unlocking human potential for better collaboration and governance isn’t smarter algorithms or stricter regulation — it’s giving people something they’ve never truly had online: identity, agency, and control over their data.
That’s where the digital self comes in. It includes:
- eName — a unique, life long digital name that identifies you across the internet, shared among all platforms, services and government registers
- ePassport — one cryptographic credential for any transaction where you have to prove your identity: logging into platforms, opening hotel doors, unlocking shared bikes, signing docs and even voting in national elections – all from your phone
- eVault — your personal data vault. Apps and platforms pull/put data only from here. Start working in one app, continue in another – your data stays complete, synced, and under your control
The idea of sovereign digital self — first proposed by Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee — seems natural and simple at first. But turning it into reality requires a complex, systemic implementation across technology, law, society, and business.
approach
Sovereign digital Self for people, communities and organizations
While many initiatives – described below in the Landscape section — have promoted similar vision on digital sovereignty over the past decade, none have truly succeeded. Addressing isolated symptoms can’t fix monopoly-driven digital balkanization.
The MetaState initiative is fundamentally different in its holistic approach, covering everything from identifying the root causes of digital inequality to building the technical, legal, social, and business foundations needed to make real transformation possible.
The MetaState initiative is fundamentally different in its holistic approach, covering everything from identifying the root causes of digital inequality to building the technical, legal, social, and business foundations needed to make real transformation possible.
SOLUTION
Holistic approach uniting legal, tech, social, economic, and political factors
Legal Foundation
Scalable rollout for people, businesses, platforms, and governments
Social and Economic Impact
Research to prevent large-scale negative social outcomes
Technological Solution
Web 3.0 architecture for data and identity control
Strategy for legal acceptance of digital identity and data.
Implementation Strategy
At its core, MetaState is built on the Web 3.0 Data Space (W3DS) architecture, developed by the Post-Platforms Foundation. W3DS integrates key ideas from SOLID, the European Data Space, and the European Digital ID initiative.
Key principles of the Web 3.0 Data Space:
Imagine all your data from thousands of platforms and registries stored securely in one place — your own personal cloud server, eVault. You decide who can access it and on what terms. No more creating countless accounts or uploading the same information over and over again. Instead, you have a single "internet account" — AURA — with complete, up-to-date information. Platforms simply retrieve the data they need. No outdated copies, no account overload, no dependency on platform monopolies. Most importantly, platforms become interchangeable and compatible because they work with the same unified data.
Learn more at → Postplatforms.org and the W3DS Library
Key principles of the Web 3.0 Data Space:
- Data Sovereignty. Data is no longer scattered across dozens of platforms — it stays with the individual or organization in a personal eVault. This removes dependency on monopolies, makes services interchangeable, and improves economic efficiency.
- Sovereign Identity. Instead of juggling multiple logins and passwords, each person has a single eName and ePassport — legally recognized by both governments and platforms, yet fully controlled by the individual. This strengthens trust, blocks bots, and gives users digital agency.
- Platform Competition. You can choose any platform or service to work with your data — and switch between them easily. Open competition drives down costs, fosters innovation, and enables new types of services.
- Advanced Security. All actions are reliably logged. Users can sign documents, co-govern community charters, manage IP rights, and vote. Competing security providers ensure integrity and resilience across the system.
Imagine all your data from thousands of platforms and registries stored securely in one place — your own personal cloud server, eVault. You decide who can access it and on what terms. No more creating countless accounts or uploading the same information over and over again. Instead, you have a single "internet account" — AURA — with complete, up-to-date information. Platforms simply retrieve the data they need. No outdated copies, no account overload, no dependency on platform monopolies. Most importantly, platforms become interchangeable and compatible because they work with the same unified data.
Learn more at → Postplatforms.org and the W3DS Library
Technical foundation
Even the most advanced technology — including W3DS — depends on real engagement from citizens and businesses. To ensure this, a phased rollout strategy is underway.
The first stage focuses on the Amsterdam Commons — communities motivated to test self-governance tools for large groups in real conditions. These early adopters bring energy and commitment to the system’s most demanding phase.
In parallel, local startups are being integrated — from mobility to social platforms — with the promise of new users, consent-based access to data, and built-in security. As new services join, user growth becomes self-sustaining.
Next comes expansion to Commons across the Netherlands and Europe, along with communities in need of trusted self-organization — including refugees, volunteers, and grassroots networks.
Later, municipalities struggling with fragmented platforms and siloed systems are expected to join. Migrating city services to the Web 3.0 Data Space could yield 2–5% budget savings through efficiency gains.
Development also extends to other domains: EU-backed pilots are already launching in Dutch agriculture (with up to 10% expected efficiency gains) and European cultural heritage.
The rollout relies not on long-term public funding, but on active participation from citizens, businesses, and platforms — ensuring MetaState’s long-term sustainability.
The first stage focuses on the Amsterdam Commons — communities motivated to test self-governance tools for large groups in real conditions. These early adopters bring energy and commitment to the system’s most demanding phase.
In parallel, local startups are being integrated — from mobility to social platforms — with the promise of new users, consent-based access to data, and built-in security. As new services join, user growth becomes self-sustaining.
Next comes expansion to Commons across the Netherlands and Europe, along with communities in need of trusted self-organization — including refugees, volunteers, and grassroots networks.
Later, municipalities struggling with fragmented platforms and siloed systems are expected to join. Migrating city services to the Web 3.0 Data Space could yield 2–5% budget savings through efficiency gains.
Development also extends to other domains: EU-backed pilots are already launching in Dutch agriculture (with up to 10% expected efficiency gains) and European cultural heritage.
The rollout relies not on long-term public funding, but on active participation from citizens, businesses, and platforms — ensuring MetaState’s long-term sustainability.
Implementation strategy
MetaState initiative aligns fully with existing European regulations, particularly the European Digital Identity (EUDI) framework and eIDAS. At its core is the digital self — a more systematic and integrated model that calls for further regulatory evolution.
Achieving this requires real bottom-up support. Progress depends on a coordinated effort that builds momentum through public adoption, business engagement, platform integration, and academic validation. This enables policymakers to follow a widely accepted shift with reduced political risk.
The approach allows individuals, communities, and businesses to form self-governed structures with charters, voting, document signing, and reputation systems. Cities like Amsterdam, for example, may adopt it to enable adaptable self-governance for Commons in need of such services.
Third-party platforms and services — community builders, car sharing, local shops, tourism apps – are expected to integrate gradually, expanding reach across sectors.
Businesses are encouraged to join the Web 3.0 Data Space for economic benefits, breaking data silos and avoiding vendor lock-in. In time, this creates incentives for direct investment in enabling technologies.
Researchers will assess both technical components, such as persistent identifiers, and societal impacts like IP rights and e-reputation, ensuring alignment with EU law.
This transformation may unfold over five years, in parallel with regulatory change — a choreographed dance between technology, policy, and society.
Achieving this requires real bottom-up support. Progress depends on a coordinated effort that builds momentum through public adoption, business engagement, platform integration, and academic validation. This enables policymakers to follow a widely accepted shift with reduced political risk.
The approach allows individuals, communities, and businesses to form self-governed structures with charters, voting, document signing, and reputation systems. Cities like Amsterdam, for example, may adopt it to enable adaptable self-governance for Commons in need of such services.
Third-party platforms and services — community builders, car sharing, local shops, tourism apps – are expected to integrate gradually, expanding reach across sectors.
Businesses are encouraged to join the Web 3.0 Data Space for economic benefits, breaking data silos and avoiding vendor lock-in. In time, this creates incentives for direct investment in enabling technologies.
Researchers will assess both technical components, such as persistent identifiers, and societal impacts like IP rights and e-reputation, ensuring alignment with EU law.
This transformation may unfold over five years, in parallel with regulatory change — a choreographed dance between technology, policy, and society.
Legal foundation
The emergence of digital sovereignty for individuals has numerous social, economic, and political consequences that impact the successful development of MetaState. Some of these have been mentioned above, but in reality, there are many more — ranging from the rise of digital reputation and community economy to the fight against fake news and the potential for controlling IPR.
A thorough analysis of these consequences is crucial not only for the effective development of new types of communities but also for avoiding potential negative scenarios, such as power concentration, the emergence of new monopolies, privacy violations, and so on. We have already conducted and continue to conduct dozens of such studies, which are detailed in the relevant articles in the W3DS library. Subscribe to it to stay updated with new materials.
We’re actively inviting experts in the anthropology of contemporary digital societies to join the conversation and help guide what comes next.
A thorough analysis of these consequences is crucial not only for the effective development of new types of communities but also for avoiding potential negative scenarios, such as power concentration, the emergence of new monopolies, privacy violations, and so on. We have already conducted and continue to conduct dozens of such studies, which are detailed in the relevant articles in the W3DS library. Subscribe to it to stay updated with new materials.
We’re actively inviting experts in the anthropology of contemporary digital societies to join the conversation and help guide what comes next.
Social and Economic Impact
Despite vast investment, none of these efforts have catalyzed adoption by the public, businesses, or platforms. Why?
They start with solutions, not problems, which include: lack of digital identity and agency for citizens and groups, vendor lock-in, data silos, IPR control, data sovereignty, fake news, trust, and more.
A second shared weakness across most projects is their narrow focus — whether on cryptography, Linked Data technologies, social challenges, or legal frameworks — without the ability to offer a comprehensive solution for society. They often fail to bridge the full spectrum: from technological and cryptographic foundations to business engagement, social impact, and integration with legal infrastructure.
A deeper synthesis of the ideas behind these diverse projects — combined with a focused effort to solve real-world problems – inevitably leads toward a solution closely aligned with a Web 3.0 Data Space.
They start with solutions, not problems, which include: lack of digital identity and agency for citizens and groups, vendor lock-in, data silos, IPR control, data sovereignty, fake news, trust, and more.
A second shared weakness across most projects is their narrow focus — whether on cryptography, Linked Data technologies, social challenges, or legal frameworks — without the ability to offer a comprehensive solution for society. They often fail to bridge the full spectrum: from technological and cryptographic foundations to business engagement, social impact, and integration with legal infrastructure.
A deeper synthesis of the ideas behind these diverse projects — combined with a focused effort to solve real-world problems – inevitably leads toward a solution closely aligned with a Web 3.0 Data Space.
Today, digital sovereignty is recognized as critical by governments, businesses, and citizens alike. Over the past decade, many initiatives have emerged, each tackling part of the challenge — but none offering a full solution. These efforts fall into three main categories:
Fragmented Efforts, Narrow Focus
Data Space Landscape
Tim Berners-Lee’s SOLID offers personal data control, but overlooks corporate data, security, persistent identifiers, and platform infrastructure. Still, it's among the most thoughtful initiatives.
MyData promotes strong principles and hosts an excellent conference, yet its architecture remains vague.
MyData promotes strong principles and hosts an excellent conference, yet its architecture remains vague.
Internet Architect Projects
Government Projects
European Digital ID (EUDI) introduces eID and verifiable credentials, which is a crucial step forward. However, it remains rooted in a paper-based paradigm and lacks real integration with Data Spaces.
European Data Spaces (IDSA, Gaia-X, SIMPL, Europeana, etc.) have consumed €3.5 billion+ focusing on inter-platform sharing, but ignore core issues like vendor lock-in and data silos.
Community-driven projects
Fediverse-style platforms focus on open source but replicate old models – leaving vendor lock-in and data silos untouched.
Blockchain/Web3 projects face scalability, identity management, and key security issues, limiting practical adoption.
Blockchain/Web3 projects face scalability, identity management, and key security issues, limiting practical adoption.
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Need additional materials or detailed insights on the project?
The city of Amsterdam is exploring new ways to empower Commons by involving them in city management tasks. Commons are self-organized communities that collectively manage shared resources – e.g. community housing or renewable energy from solar panels.
By taking on roles traditionally held by commercial companies, Commons can provide services within the framework of a Community Economy – an economy built on shared values and collective benefit. To make Commons formation easier, citizens need reliable tools to unite around common goals, values, and capacities.
This requires:
The MetaState ecosystem addresses all these needs, providing a strong foundation for prototyping Amsterdam’s Commons (e)Infrastructure.
MetaState’s collaboration with Amsterdam’s housing Commons will begin in spring 2025 as a Living Lab, with test implementation of the prototype planned for September 2025.
By taking on roles traditionally held by commercial companies, Commons can provide services within the framework of a Community Economy – an economy built on shared values and collective benefit. To make Commons formation easier, citizens need reliable tools to unite around common goals, values, and capacities.
This requires:
- Legally recognized digital identities for individuals and communities
- Mechanisms for adopting charters, secure voting, and internal accountability
- Reliable feedback systems and ways to connect like-minded citizens.
- An open ecosystem involving multiple platforms to avoid monopolization
The MetaState ecosystem addresses all these needs, providing a strong foundation for prototyping Amsterdam’s Commons (e)Infrastructure.
MetaState’s collaboration with Amsterdam’s housing Commons will begin in spring 2025 as a Living Lab, with test implementation of the prototype planned for September 2025.
Practical Usecase: Amsterdam
Empowering Amsterdam’s Commons through Digital Infrastructure
Given the innovative nature of the W3DS architecture, some timeline adjustments may occur as the project breaks new ground.
Action plan
From Vision to Working Prototype by Fall 2025
Testing of the MetaState ecosystem in Amsterdam Commons is scheduled to begin.
The Prototype is scheduled to be launched in Amsterdam and other local and global communities without limits. We will start integration of the 3rd party platforms.
June 2025
The development of the W3DS technical infrastructure, the apps and post-platforms began.
The technical specification for the MetaState Prototype for Amsterdam Commons was developed .
Fall 2024
September 2025
March 2025
to provide reliable voting for any Group
to calculate reputation of users and groups based on reviews and their activities
eReputation
two social networks (to demonstrate interoperability) to allow people communicate and create groups
Social Networks
To manage rewards and appreciation points.
Points & Rewards Services
to list all post-platforms and services available in the ecosystem
Marketplace
To control stuff at your eVault
File Manager
to help people to find like-minded people and join them in groups
Backup/Restore Services
Matchmaker (DreamSync)
Cerberus
to make sure the Group Charters are executed properly. In the future all sorts of security observations and control (similar to antivirus)
eVoting
In Onboarding: to generate eNames, issue ePassports (via PKI), initiate personal eVaults
eID Wallet App
ePassport
eName
eVault
MetaState Services
What Services Can Users Realistically Expect From MetaState
At the heart of the system is the individual – or a group of individuals forming a community – each with an eName, an ePassport (for individuals only), and an eVault containing their original data. A growing ecosystem of services is being developed to meet their needs – starting with about a dozen at launch and expanding over time.
Since the first use case is Amsterdam Commons, the initial services are tailored to commons-based communities: tools for governance, coordination, resource sharing, and decision-making. As the ecosystem evolves, it will expand to include car sharing, local logistics, project management, and other everyday services.
Since the first use case is Amsterdam Commons, the initial services are tailored to commons-based communities: tools for governance, coordination, resource sharing, and decision-making. As the ecosystem evolves, it will expand to include car sharing, local logistics, project management, and other everyday services.
to ensure independency from eVault providers and cloud services
Q&A
We’re not reinventing the internet – its core protocols (TCP/IP) and web technologies remain intact. What we’re reimagining is the way data is stored. Instead of uploading the same information across countless platforms, individuals (or organizations, communities) will have their own digital data hub (eVault), which platforms can access – only with explicit consent. This shift grants users tXrue agency in their digital interactions, whether with platforms or governments, and lays the groundwork for more advanced forms of democracy (think direct or participatory democracy). It’s a return to the internet’s decentralized roots. Think of email: you can send messages without being tied to a specific client, unlike messaging apps, where the platform you use (WhatsApp vs. Telegram) matters.
Why It’s a Game-Changer:
Why It’s a Game-Changer:
- Platform monopolies lose their stranglehold on data, making services interchangeable.
- No more redundant or outdated data: update your phone number once, and it’s reflected everywhere.
- Seamless platform integration: send a message on WhatsApp, and your friend can read it on Telegram — no walls, no friction.
No. MetaState isn’t a platform or a proprietary solution. It’s an open community for ordinary platforms – a kind of Commons for Platforms – where each participant can bring their users and data, and in return, gain access to the users and data of others. It’s built on the universal Web 3.0 Data Space architecture, enabling true digital sovereignty and community self-organization. Like the internet itself, these technologies are open, interoperable, and accessible to all – with military-grade security for both users and platforms.
MetaState isn’t just about technology – it’s about practically implementing digital sovereignty for individuals, communities, and companies.
If blockchain or Fediverse could solve these challenges, we’d use them. But here’s the thing:
If blockchain or Fediverse could solve these challenges, we’d use them. But here’s the thing:
- Web3 and blockchain can’t deliver legitimate eIDs or true digital sovereignty.
- Fediverse The Fediverse mistakenly assumes that the problem was in the lack of open source code – and as a result, it simply created yet another data silo, and in a way – vendor lock-in.
You don’t have to – and that’s the point. Our mission is to show you how digital sovereignty can change your life, what’s blocking it, and how we can break through those barriers.
We publish open materials (e.g. W3DS Library) that dive deep into every aspect of the topic. It’s up to you to evaluate the arguments and draw your own conclusions. And of course, we’re always open to criticism and suggestions.
We publish open materials (e.g. W3DS Library) that dive deep into every aspect of the topic. It’s up to you to evaluate the arguments and draw your own conclusions. And of course, we’re always open to criticism and suggestions.
These projects are connected like aviation and airplane manufacturing — one provides the infrastructure, the other enables real-world applications.
Web 3.0 Data Space (developed by the Post-Platforms Foundation) is the technological foundation:
Web 3.0 Data Space (developed by the Post-Platforms Foundation) is the technological foundation:
- Architecture and open standards.
- User identification mechanisms (eID).
- Connecting platforms to decentralized data storage.
- Launching the first communities equipped with eID, voting, and digital governance.
- Developing an ecosystem of services for self-organization of individuals and businesses.
- Incentivizing platforms to integrate into MetaState, ensuring the project’s economic sustainability.
Early adopters wanted: explore, test, support and co-create MetaState from day one.
Join Us
SPREAD THE WORD
Share our vision and the benefits of digital self-sovereignty for society, businesses, and governments with your network. The more people understand the value of MetaState, the faster the ecosystem will grow.
BUILD WITH US
Developers are invited to build their platforms and services on the W3DS infrastructure of MetaState. Create new services or integrate existing ones to reach users without marketing costs and gain first-mover advantage.
SUPPORT THE PROJECT
MetaState is a public-interest initiative. You can support it through donations or other forms of contribution. Every bit helps strengthen the foundation of a more human-centric digital future.
TRY IT OUT
Claim your sovereign Digital Self (eName and ePassportID), set up your eVault, and explore the first services built on MetaState. Test platform interoperability, form self-governing communities, and help shape the future with your feedback.
coming
in September
in September
coming
in September
in September