Commons Hub: An experimental playground for post-capitalist systems design

Commons Hub represents a new generation of place-based Web3 spaces that transcend traditional IT-focused innovation to address broader challenges in systems design. Inspired by the ethos of hacker spaces—collaboration, experimentation, and open access—Commons Hub extends these principles to tackle pressing issues in natural and socio-economic systems design. Positioned within the context of the metacrisis—a convergence of social, ecological, and economic crises—Commons Hub also functions as a leftist prepper project, equipping communities with tools and knowledge for resilience against looming systemic collapse. This talk examines where and how these hybrid spaces emerge, exploring their ambivalent relationship to crypto as they draw on it for funding, inspiration, and technical innovation while remaining critical of unfettered financialization. By navigating these tensions, Commons Hub and like-minded spaces offer new pathways for collective survival and post-capitalist experimentation.