The Dictatorship of Cryptonomicon is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Neal Stephenson with an even hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and multi-spousal wedding ceremonies. The hard-nosed, devout population of 19.628 billion Cryptonomiconians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government prioritizes Defense, although Law & Order and Education are also considered important, while Welfare and Social Policy receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Pontifex. The average income tax rate is 24.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Cryptonomiconian economy, worth a remarkable 1,163 trillion Rubies a year, is quite specialized and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Automobile Manufacturing, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 59,286 Rubies, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Reinventing the wheel is a favourite pastime of Cryptonomiconian weapons designers, restaurants are required to specify whether their toilet paper was made in Cryptonomicon, parents giddily refuse to pay their toddlers' medical bills, and delivery truck companies use hospital parking lots to store 16-wheelers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Cryptonomicon's national animal is the Sugar Glider, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Geocaching.

Cryptonomicon is ranked 242,737^th in the world and 814^th in NationStates for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring -16.74 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.