Donald Trump has evoked chuckles, derision, skepticism, and indignation by suggesting that the U.S. acquire Greenland. It seems no one is entirely sure how to react to the president-elect’s notion. Yet, Trump is not the sole individual interested in acquiring the Danish region. Certain members of the technobro-iverse have previously shown fascination with buying the landmass for their peculiar dystopian objectives.

“I traveled to Greenland to attempt a purchase,” Dryden Brown tweeted in November. At 28, Brown serves as the CEO of a venture known as Praxis, which links to a larger trend called the Network State. I recently documented the Network Staters, who claim aspirations to form a series of privately financed, cryptocurrency-friendly nations globally. Enthusiasts of this philosophy assert they are constructing tomorrow’s world, whereas detractors view the initiative as a strange neo-colonial attempt to annex existing nations, revamp their legislative structures, and plunder their wealth and resources.

Indeed, Brown made his way to Greenland last year to engage with local leaders about the potential acquisition of the territory. His proposition was swiftly met with mockery. “Greenlandic independence necessitates Danish parliamentary consent and an amendment to our constitution,” declared politician Rasmus Jarlov in a recent tweet. “I assure you, approval for independence to enable a purchase of Greenland is off the table for us.”

Brown, nevertheless, is now quite enthused by Trump’s proposal, as if claiming a role in its inception. After a recent post by Trump on Truth Social about acquiring Greenland, the X account representing Praxis retweeted it, commenting succinctly: “According to plan.” Shortly after, Brown tweeted: “Praxis aims to bolster Greenland’s progress by organizing talent, enterprises, and funds to fortify the Arctic, harness essential resources, modify the terrain with cutting-edge technology to enhance habitability, and construct a legendary metropolis up North.”

A pivotal figure in the triumph of both the Network State movement and Donald Trump is the enigmatic tech tycoon Peter Thiel. Pronomos Capital, the venture capital enterprise bankrolling a substantial portion of the movement’s distinctive undertakings (Praxis included), finds financial backing from Thiel. Multiple Thiel colleagues are intricately involved with the endeavor, among them Joe Lonsdale, the co-creator of Thiel’s defense contractor Palantir, and Michael Gibson, formerly the vice president of grants at the Thiel Foundation, now an advisor at Pronomos.

Simultaneously, Thiel has acted as a significant patron of Trump’s political journey, contributing to the financial backing of his 2016 presidential campaign. In an even more peculiar twist, it’s suggested Trump appointed a Thiel ally, Ken Howery, as ambassador to Denmark, strategically positioning him to steer any Greenland transactions—should they ever come to fruition.

So what’s transpiring here? Could Trump’s latest disclosure be intertwined with Brown and his Thiel-endorsed project? Or is Praxis merely seizing Trump’s idea as a promotional shot for its own struggling utopia? With Trump, separating fact from fiction is perpetually a challenge.

One aspect is clear: Brown’s fresh remarks on Greenland chiefly reinforce the perception that Network Staters are contemporary imperialists. Across numerous posts, he candidly discusses ambitions to exploit the region for Western interests. In a recent declaration, the young innovator wrote: “It’s expansive, yet hosts only 50k people, abundant in valuable resources: uranium, gold, oil, and more, playing a pivotal defense role in the Arctic.” In other communications, Brown expressed intentions to utilize Greenland for “terraforming” trials, so when the moment arrives to establish a Martian society, America will be set.