Sean Hastings

Early Work and Cryptography

Sean Hastings, born in 1969, is an American entrepreneur and security expert with a background in cryptographic protocols and cypherpunk thought. In 1997, he worked alongside Vincent Cate on cryptographic tools and protocols designed to operate outside U.S. cryptographic export restrictions. That same year, Cate founded the International Conference on Financial Cryptography in Anguilla, where Hastings was then residing.

HavenCo and Sealand

In 2000, Hastings founded HavenCo, a data haven company initially incorporated in Anguilla before a second incorporation in the Channel Islands. Hastings served as CEO, with co-founders including Ryan Lackey and Sameer Parekh. HavenCo operated from Sealand, a self-proclaimed and unrecognized micronation situated on a former offshore platform, offering data hosting services intended to be free from the jurisdiction of conventional governments.

The company's public launch generated substantial press coverage. Hastings, several co-founders, and members of Sealand's self-styled royal family appeared on the cover of Wired magazine's July 2000 issue. Despite the high-profile attention, HavenCo faced commercial difficulties and mounting tensions with Sealand's government, and the company was entirely nationalized by Sealand in 2002.

Seasteading

Following HavenCo's collapse, Hastings turned his attention to seasteading — the concept of constructing permanent, self-governing communities on floating platforms in international waters. Beginning in 2002, he collaborated with Patri Friedman on this project, which aimed to create communities free from the constraints of existing governmental structures. The collaboration extended through at least 2009, during which Hastings delivered a talk at the Seasteading Institute's annual conference discussing the prospects of extra-national sea platforms.

Open Source and Reputation Infrastructure

In March 2009, Hastings co-founded Green-Span alongside Eric S. Raymond, the open-source advocate and author. Green-Span is described as an open-source infrastructure project focused on trust and reputation management.

Writing and Media

Hastings co-authored God Wants You Dead (Vera Verba, 2007; ISBN 978-0-9796011-1-8) with Paul Rosenberg. The book approaches atheism and anarchy from a lighthearted perspective. He also served as executive producer and appeared as an actor in The Last Generation to Die, a short film exploring near-future immortality technology. Hastings was additionally the subject of a segment spoofing him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.