Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin received the "First Class Order of Merit of the Star of Liberland," the micronation's highest state distinction, during ETHPrague 2026. Buterin accepted the star-shaped medal at a Network State event sponsored by the self-declared country. Liberland officials stated the award recognizes Buterin's "extraordinary technical achievements" and his contributions to "new ideas about how societies can organize themselves."
Buterin also received praise for his focus on "pop-up cities, decentralized societies, and network states." The medal's name draws inspiration from the Commonwealth's Order of Merit, a century-old honor awarded for distinguished service to individuals such as Florence Nightingale. An image released by Liberland showed Buterin holding the medal.
Tron founder Justin Sun, a crypto billionaire, has not received Liberland's top honor. Sun was, however, elected prime minister of the region in October 2024. He has since been re-elected seven times for the role. When he first sought the position, Sun publicly stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties with the United States. He also highlighted his investments in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto firm with reported links to Donald Trump, and lauded Steve Witkoff, then a US Middle East Envoy, as an ally.
These statements contrast sharply with current events. Zach Witkoff, son of Steve Witkoff and co-founder of WLFI, now claims Sun is actively trying to "torch" the firm. WLFI and Sun have initiated lawsuits against each other, indicating a significant breakdown in their business relationship. The specifics of these legal disputes, including allegations of breach of contract or financial misconduct, remain under review in court filings.
Despite his prominent role, Sun has reportedly not yet visited Liberland's claimed territory. The micronation, founded by President Vít Jedlička, exists on a parcel of disputed land between Serbia and Croatia. Liberland recently announced it was unaffected by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the Donbas region. President Jedlička claimed, "Every structure we build in Liberland is designed with events like this in mind." These structures include a tent beach bar and a treehouse.