PUPALU: A Zuzalu in the pristine paradise, Palau
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Create a sustainable, digital residency-focused community in Palau using blockchain technology, fostering a civilization detox and connecting people with the pristine marine environment while promoting environmental conservation.

Vision: To bring a world-class, highly innovative and forward thinking community like Zuzaluans to Palau, a developing micro island paradise that is pioneering new governance and web3 initiatives. The goal is to create maximal impact in the region, leverage the agility of a small country to implement new policies, and to experience the most beautiful and pristine place on earth so we can all be reminded how we are just one participant in this big ecosystem called earth. We want to introduce a civilization detox, foster connections, and a chance to do things right for marginalized countries. The climate change is a huge problem, so as governments of the modern world. With our Palau story, we want to create a role-model story on how to do things right, to create a new city or a network state that can lead the way for the world.

Why Palau: Palau, a small island nation in the Pacifics, has a population of 18000, a very safe political system and rule of law. Palau is pioneering the new governance with web3 technology, for digital community. Palau is the first country in the world to launch a country stablecoin, and is the first to introduce the concept of Digital Residency - a residency for digital communities. In addition, a new tokenization RWA platform, Turtle X, is launching to help crowdfund real estate and sustainability developments in Palau - entirely using blockchain technology in Ethereum ecosystem. With all these initiatives, Palau wants to explore more!

In August 2023, the inaugural Palau Blockchain Summit took place, and lit a fire in all small island nations in Pacifics. Public awareness of blockchain and general acceptance of this technology are high. A few Zuzalu Montenegro team including Nicole Sun and Vitalik Buterin attended and presented the vision of Zuzalu to the President of Palau, and the session was live-steamed nationwide. Palau government and general public want to see Zuzalu happen there.

Palau is also one of the most beautiful places on earth. People choose impacts more than financial gain, choose to give more than take. Palau has banned commercial fishing so it truly is a paradise for ocean lovers. It is also the birth place of historic Yap stone money, which is the first concept of a bitcoin!

Core Team: Elaine Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Metropolis Global: The company that designed the digital residency program and the corporate registry program in Palau, Elaine was also the core organizer of Palau Blockchain Summit, and had attended Zuzalu Montenegro and ZuConnect.

Junior Seid and Jason Seid, Co-Founders of Palau Blockchain Society (PBS): PBS is a youth-led initiative in Palau, aiming to educate the public and government the power of blockchain and web3. Junior and Jason were also the organizers of Palau Blockchain Summit, and amazing fishermen. They can assist on local operations and assistance.

Alan Seid, Advisor of Palau Blockchain Society and former Congressman, former Senator of Palau: Alan is the visionary person who introduced the whole Digital Palau concept to the country. He has a lot of love for new technology and the ocean, and is a legendary figure in the small island nation region in Pacifics.

Logistics: Pupalu will welcome residents and visitors for 2 weeks of coliving. At the end of 2 weeks, Palau Blockchain Summit will take place, with representatives from Palau government and other neighboring island nations. We will target end of September as it is independence day of Palau, or in December after the Presidential election. Pupalu will take place on the Happiness Island, a private island owned by Jason Seid from Palau Blockchain Society. We will also have a hub in the town center, in a hotel which we can reserve entirely. The Happiness Island has complete infrastructure and starlink internet. We have a few private boats that can take people out everyday. Weekly farmers market and fishing trip. There are thousands of sea turtles around the island and a dugong colony around - a once in a lifetime to see! We will be catching the fishes we eat, while building cool things for the country and the ecosystem. We will teach people how to spear-fishing, to swim with sharks, and to enjoy everything the ocean can offer.

Budget: Depending on the accommodations, it can range from $500-$1000 per room that has 2 beds. Instead of free breakfast, we will do communal seafood BBQ dinner to save cost as we will catchj all the seafood. Other resources might be costly as things have to be imported, but the ocean is priceless and snorkeling is free. Transportation will need to be arranged. Right now we have no funding, but we hope everyone can help to make this unique experience a reality.

PUPALU: A Zuzalu in the pristine paradise, Palau History

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