In the vast and complex structure of a network state, self-custody is not just a tool but a foundational principle, a building block from which the entire system emerges. If the network state is an ocean, vast and layered, the individual represents each drop of water—small yet essential. The robustness and resilience of the entire system hinge on the self-custody of each individual within it. If the individual can robustly and resiliently maintain its self-custody then the subsequent layers of organizational self-custody and therefore network state self-custody will be orders of magnitude more robust and resilient.

To analyze this, self-custody for the individual must be viewed through the lens of independence—where a person can only rely on oneself for maintaining control over these key aspects of their life. This chapter will focus on the individual alone, delving into how one can maintain and secure their self-custody. The more complex interactions of self-custody among multiple individuals will be explored in later chapters. But here, we begin with the individual, the most fundamental unit of the network state, whose autonomy is the foundation upon which greater layers of custody are built.