🤷‍♂️ IDEA : Create Your Own Country?

Hey friend,

In today’s newsletter: how a drunk Brit, a backyard ‘Space Program’ and 600K in fake nobility titles built the world’s weirdest empire. Check it out.

The Story

In 1967, a retired British army major named Paddy Bates did what any sane person would do after a few drinks: he grabbed a rifle, stormed an abandoned WWII anti-aircraft platform in the North Sea, and declared himself Prince of Sealand—population: five, plus a dog.

People called him crazy. Newspapers called him a joke. But Prince Roy? He saw dolla dolla bills y'all.

By 1968, he was selling knighthoods for $50 a pop, printing passports for pirate radio DJs, and auctioning off "territory" the size of a studio apartment. Today, his family pulls in around $600,000/year selling titles to crypto bros, bored millionaires, and people who think "Baron of the North Sea" sounds better on Tinder than "VP of Sales."

Fascinated, I fell into yet another rabbit hole and discovered Sealand was just the tip of the iceberg.

In 1982, Key West seceded from the U.S. to troll the federal government. They named themselves the Conch Republic, declared war by pelting Border Patrol with stale bread, then surrendered and demanded $1B in foreign aid.

Today? They sell thousands of novelty passports to tourists who'd rather be "citizens" of a joke than live in Bumfuck, Ohio.

Meanwhile, 400 miles north, in a dusty Nevada suburb, President Kevin Baugh rules the Kingdom of Molossia—a fenced backyard complete with its own railroad, space program (a model rocket), and a currency backed by cookie dough. Visitors happily pay $35 to tour Molossia, get visas stamped, and take selfies at its border.

This is capitalism cosplaying as geopolitics—and I freakin’ love it.

While market size is tough to pinpoint exactly, the broader "fantasy identity" market (renaissance faires, LARPing, micronation merchandise) easily exceeds $300 million annually in North America alone.

At its core, the micronation business model is genius-level “scarcity theatre”: limited titles, ceremonial passports, imaginary embassies—all manufactured prestige people eagerly line up to buy.

Now let's explore three proven ways to profit from this bizarre yet lucrative trend—each with startup costs under $1,000.

How To Profit

• "Your Majesty" as a Service

People are natural suckers for status—and nothing screams status like becoming a Count, Lady, Ambassador, or Duke.

Your move: Launch your own micronation online, selling beautifully printed certificates, ceremonial passports, custom Wikipedia-style pages, and novelty knighthoods. These items are perfect as hilarious gifts, conversation starters, or vanity purchases for those who enjoy bragging rights.

But here's the key: always make it crystal clear that you're selling novelty fun, not genuine titles or land rights. Companies like "Established Titles" got called out (very publicly on YouTube) for misleading people into thinking they’d actually become lords or ladies. Be smart, be transparent, and win trust whilst cashing in on the fun.

Shopify store + Canva templates + Instagram ads = 90% margins. Market to crypto traders, fantasy nerds, and guys who own swords. Easy money.

• Micronation Tourism & Events

Why limit yourself to selling novelty titles when you could charge tourists to visit your imaginary nation? Lease remote islands, empty buildings, or quirky off-grid properties temporarily. Declare them independent micronations, and offer immersive weekend retreats, quirky festivals, or Instagram-worthy tours.

But don't stop there—launch a digital micronation too. Platforms like Decentraland have demonstrated the profitability of virtual land sales, where digital plots fetch thousands of dollars from eager crypto investors and enthusiasts.

Think of it as Burning Man meets Decentraland meets International Diplomacy. Charge visitors for visas, tours, souvenirs, and official photo ops. Market the experience as a chance to “escape reality”—complete with pretend border crossings, fake passports, and your own set of delightfully bizarre national customs.

• The Diplomatic Economy

Micronations have exploded across the globe—from abandoned oil platforms and desert plots to suburban backyards and bedroom empires. But there’s no central place for these imaginary states to connect, trade, or build relationships—that’s your opportunity.

Create an online marketplace that acts as a “United Nations” for micronations. Members pay annual fees for diplomatic status, premium listings, and access to imaginary international trade opportunities. Offer networking events, custom diplomatic stationery, and even host annual “Micronation Summits” where participants come together to roleplay diplomacy, sign whimsical treaties, and exchange collectible memorabilia.

Your platform makes money from annual dues, merchandise sales, and event fees—essentially becoming the infrastructure of a rapidly growing market nobody saw coming.

Ask Ace (Q and A time)

Speaking of bizarre business ideas and micronation madness, let's make this fun.

You have questions; Ace has answers.

Want to know if your weird hobby could secretly print cash? Need Ace’s opinion on a trend you’re eyeing? Curious how Ace would turn your side hustle into your main gig?

Send in your questions—no matter how strange or specific—to this email, and Ace Victoria himself will answer one or two each edition, or until he gets bored. 

PS—Yes, he’s technically dead. No, he doesn’t care. Turns out the afterlife has great Wifi.

Until next time,

Alex

Founder //LZY MNY CLB