The Next Frontier: Investing in Digital Jurisdictions | Sub0 2025
•November 28, 2025
0
Why It Matters
A crypto‑friendly regulatory regime would lock in talent and capital, turning Argentina into a high‑growth hub for Web3 and AI and offering investors a new frontier for scalable, on‑chain business models.
Summary
Simon Buola, head of video at Crescimiento, frames the next frontier for the Web3 ecosystem not as a new protocol but as the creation of digital jurisdictions – essentially “crypto countries” that embed smart contracts, programmable money, and on‑chain transparency into national regulatory frameworks. He argues that the current legal scaffolding in Argentina and broader LATAM, where company incorporation can take 37 days, is an anachronism for an industry that can deploy a smart contract in seconds, and that a regulatory lock‑in is essential to protect and scale ecosystem investments.
Buola highlights the rapid growth of Crescimiento’s grassroots movement: 25% crypto adoption at the country level, more than 8,000 citizens engaged through pop‑up cities, 1,200 startups in its ecosystem, and over 20,000 visitors to its events. Backed by Protocol Labs, TheRun Foundation and others, the initiative has already piloted a token‑ization sandbox with the Argentine securities regulator (CNV) and is drafting a framework for special economic zones (SEZs) that could give the nation a competitive regulatory edge.
He points to concrete data: SEZs account for 30% of Argentina’s exports, and globally there are over 7,000 SEZs representing a trillion‑dollar market, yet none are tailored for Web3 or AI in the Southern Hemisphere. This gap fuels brain drain, as Argentine startups relocate to jurisdictions like Austin to access clearer rules. By positioning Argentina as the first “crypto nation,” Crescimiento aims to retain talent, attract capital, and turn the country into a hub for Web3 and AI innovation across LATAM.
The implication is clear: regulatory innovation could transform Argentina into a template for digital sovereignty, offering investors a stable, transparent environment for on‑chain finance and identity solutions. If successful, the model could be replicated across emerging markets, reshaping capital flows, reducing brain drain, and accelerating the mainstream adoption of decentralized technologies worldwide.
Original Description
Simón Puebla - Head of BD at Crecimiento.
sub0 - Polkadot’s highly immersive three-day Polkadot flagship summit in Buenos Aires.
Enjoy this video? Check out the below resources to further explore the Polkadot DAO 👇
Social channels 💬
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Polkadot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polkadotnetwork/
Discord: https://dot.li/discord
Other useful resources:
Get Started on Polkadot: https://polkadot.com/get-started
Explore the Polkadot platform: https://polkadot.com/platform
Learn about the Polkadot DAO: https://polkadot.com/platform/dao
Explore all things technical: https://wiki.polkadot.network/
0
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...