I don't know whether this is what Thiel was thinking, but if you believe that the experiments on seasteads add crucially needed flexibility to a government monoculture which has some serious problems, then seasteads would improve odds for survival.

The current "social cohesion" allows the government to perform autopsies that interfere with cryonics, and only allows cryonics at all under the guise of organ donation to scientiffic research.

It appears to me that Thiel just tries to sponsor some fringe charities. I guess I would do that as well, if I was as rich as him (maybe after finally reading all of LW I'd just sponsor the SIAI though ;-). I'm simply a bit disappointed that he didn't invite more charities and projects that are more focused on a single task. But maybe it isn't his fault, they just didn't apply.

“These innovative, big-thinking nonprofits are woefully underfunded compared to the potential benefit they can bring to humanity,” said Patri Friedman, opening speaker and executive director of The Seasteading Institute. “We need more visionary philanthropists like Peter Thiel who look to the long-term and invest in breakthrough technologies."

Link: Thiel Foundation Presents An Evening Of Breakthrough Philanthropy, Featuring Visionary Nonprofits Benefiting Humanity Through Technology