01 - Network State Conference 2025 - Farhaj Mayan on Forma

SUMMARY

Farhaj Mayan, co-founder of Forma, presents on Solana Economic Zones, detailing partnerships with governments like Kazakhstan to foster blockchain-nation state ties through hubs, events, and investments.

STATEMENTS

Forma collaborates with frontier countries to develop Solana Economic Zones as physical hubs bridging blockchain ecosystems and nation states for economic growth.
Over two years, Forma has traveled 100,000 kilometers, hosted four pop-up events across three continents, and established three long-term Solana hubs with local governments.
These initiatives have generated over $5 million in foreign direct investment through virtual events and longevity projects while creating promo videos with 10 million X impressions.
In Kazakhstan, Forma organized a one-day summit and one-week trade mission, attracting 150,000 livestream viewers and 250 government delegates, leading to four key MOUs.
The Kazakhstan partnership launched the region's first Solana Economic Zone, followed by actions like issuing a national stablecoin on Solana and planning a crypto city.
Forma is in late-stage discussions with three Western Hemisphere countries to build permanent Solana Economic Zones aligned with government economic goals.
As a final pop-up, Forma will host 150 people in Georgia from November 15-22 for a cultural experience beta-testing life in a Solana hub.

IDEAS

Solana Economic Zones could redefine global economics by creating physical spaces where blockchain innovation directly integrates with national policies and infrastructure.
Traveling extensively to host pop-ups reveals untapped potential in frontier nations eager for blockchain to drive foreign investment and digital transformation.
A single high-impact event like Kazakhstan's summit can catalyze rapid policy changes, from stablecoin launches to national crypto reserves in under a month.
Promo videos for emerging countries amplify their visibility exponentially, turning niche blockchain communities into global advocates for economic partnerships.
Dual-listing frameworks between traditional stock exchanges and blockchain platforms could unlock liquidity flows, blending Web3 with established capital markets.
National hackathons training thousands of developers on Solana demonstrate how targeted education accelerates a country's blockchain adoption and innovation capacity.
Designating physical "crypto cities" allows governments to experiment with bleeding-edge blockchain applications without risking broader national systems.
Long-term hubs succeed when goals align closely with government priorities, fostering sustained economic development over fleeting pop-up events.
Pop-up villages serve as prototypes for permanent zones, letting communities test blockchain-integrated living and cultural immersion in real-world settings.
Ending pop-ups to focus on settlements marks a maturation in blockchain diplomacy, shifting from exploration to deep-rooted institutional collaborations.

INSIGHTS

Blockchain networks like Solana can evolve from digital experiments to tangible nation-state alliances, accelerating economic zones that blend virtual and physical worlds for mutual prosperity.
High-visibility events and media amplification are key levers for frontier governments to attract global investment, turning obscure partnerships into widespread innovation catalysts.
Rapid policy implementation post-MOU, such as crypto reserves and stablecoins, shows how blockchain urgency can bypass traditional bureaucratic delays in ambitious nations.
Sustainable blockchain integration requires aligning tech ecosystems with local governance, creating hybrid models where digital liquidity enhances national capital markets.

QUOTES

"Simply put, they're basically physical hubs that build economic relations between cloud, Solana, and LAN, which are nation states."
"We've delivered over $5 million in foreign direct investment just by virtual events and the kind of longevity projects that we're running there."
"This was the first ever formal official partnership between a nation state and the Solana network state."
"Kazakhstan actually launched digital tenge its national currency stable coin on Solana."
"They're not only establishing a national crypto reserve, but they're also building a crypto city."

HABITS

Traveling over 100,000 kilometers globally to scout and engage with frontier governments for blockchain partnerships.
Hosting immersive pop-up events and summits to prototype economic zones and build community ties.
Producing and sharing promotional videos on platforms like X to boost international awareness of partner countries.
Coordinating trade missions with national ministries and regulators to facilitate direct investment and policy discussions.
Organizing hackathons and developer training programs to upskill local talent in blockchain technologies.

FACTS

Forma has hosted four pop-up events across three continents, developing three long-term Solana hubs.
Kazakhstan's summit livestream reached over 150,000 viewers with 250 government delegates attending.
Post-MOU, Kazakhstan issued its national stablecoin, digital tenge, on the Solana blockchain.
AIX, a NASDAQ-powered exchange, signed an MOU for dual-listing companies on Solana.
Kazakhstan's national hackathon trained over 1,000 developers on building Solana applications.
Just 22 days before the talk, Kazakhstan's president announced a national crypto reserve and a dedicated crypto city.

REFERENCES

Solana Foundation: Partnered on MOU for Solana Economic Zone in Kazakhstan.
Government of Kazakhstan: Signed MOUs for economic zone, stablecoin, and hackathon initiatives.
AIX (Astana International Exchange): MOU for dual-listing framework with Solana, Intabix, and Jupiter.
Intabix and Jupiter: Collaborated on capital markets liquidity framework and national hackathon.
Georgia Government: Hosting Forma's final pop-up village from November 15-22.
Network State Conference 2025: Event where the talk was delivered.
Farhaj Mayan's X account: https://x.com/farhajmayan.
Forma website: https://forma.city.
Full Network State Conference playlist: YouTube link provided.

HOW TO APPLY

Identify frontier countries open to innovation by mapping government policies on digital economy and blockchain through research and initial outreach.
Organize a compact summit with livestreaming to engage high-level delegates, aiming for 100,000+ viewers to build immediate visibility and momentum.
Negotiate MOUs focused on tangible outcomes like stablecoin issuance or developer training, ensuring alignment with national economic goals for quick implementation.
Develop promo content like videos to generate social media impressions, attracting foreign direct investment from global blockchain communities.
Transition from pop-ups to permanent hubs by entering late-stage discussions with aligned governments, prototyping experiences to test scalability.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Forma pioneers Solana Economic Zones to fuse blockchain with nations, sparking investments and crypto cities for global economic evolution.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Prioritize partnerships with ambitious governments in emerging regions to co-create blockchain economic zones that drive mutual growth.
Leverage short, high-impact events like summits to secure MOUs and catalyze rapid digital currency and policy advancements.
Invest in media amplification through promo videos to elevate lesser-known countries' profiles and attract blockchain talent and capital.
Focus on education via hackathons to build local developer ecosystems, ensuring sustainable blockchain adoption within nations.
Shift from exploratory pop-ups to committed long-term hubs for deeper alignment with government objectives and lasting impact.

MEMO

Farhaj Mayan, co-founder of Forma, captivated a lively audience at the Network State Conference 2025 with his vision for Solana Economic Zones—tangible hubs where blockchain meets nation-state ambition. Over two years, his team has crisscrossed the globe, logging 100,000 kilometers to host pop-up events in four countries across three continents. These efforts birthed three enduring Solana hubs, channeling $5 million in foreign direct investment and amassing 10 million X impressions through vibrant promo videos that spotlight emerging economies.

The spotlight fell on Kazakhstan, where Forma's innovative approach—a one-day summit followed by a weeklong trade mission—drew 150,000 livestream viewers and 250 government officials. This culminated in landmark MOUs: launching the region's first Solana Economic Zone with the Solana Foundation, debuting the digital tenge stablecoin, and forging ties between the Astana International Exchange and Solana for dual-listed companies. Momentum surged further with a national hackathon training 1,000 developers and, remarkably, the president's announcement of a crypto reserve and a pioneering crypto city just weeks prior.

Looking ahead, Forma eyes permanence, negotiating with three Western Hemisphere nations for dedicated zones while staging one final pop-up in Georgia from November 15-22. This event invites 150 participants to immerse in a blockchain-infused cultural beta test. Mayan's journey underscores a pivotal shift: from nomadic experimentation to anchored alliances, positioning Solana as a bridge to reimagine global economic frontiers.