Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ Balaji Srinivasan, a popular Indian-origin entrepreneur and former CTO of Coinbase, has acquired a private island near Singapore for a revolutionary idea. Accordingly, the tech tycoon is planning to create a unique community for tech entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and innovators. The ambitious project is part of his goal to establish a ‘Network State,’ which is a digitally native community based on common values and powered by contemporary technology. This concept, initially described in his 2022 book ‘The Network State,’ seeks to unite online groups that eventually obtain real-world land and aspire for recognition as sovereign states. That once-theoretical idea is now becoming a reality.
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Srinivasan’s latest endeavor, The Network School, debuted in September 2024. It acts as a trial run for his ambitious goals. The school is based on the island and offers a three-month residential program in which participants work on personal development and physical fitness, and learn about cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. One attendee, Nick Peterson, shared a peek of life on the island on Instagram, characterizing it as a location for “gym rats and startup founders.” In a video tour, he stated, “I’ve been living in this real-life experiment called the Network School.” We’re experimenting with what it might be like to construct a new kind of country.” Every day at the school begins with a gym session, followed by seminars and personal training on subjects such as entrepreneurship, cryptocurrency, and new technology. The goal of this mission is to shape well-rounded individuals who can thrive in a future society built around innovation and self-reliance.
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Srinivasan claims to have acquired the island “through the power of Bitcoin,” and he regularly posts updates on social media platforms such as X and Substack. His call for participants is broad and ambitious. He is looking for remote workers, creators, digital builders, personal trainers, and anyone interested in what he calls “win-and-help-win” communities, spaces where people grow individually while helping others do the same. The Network School emphasizes “truth, health, and wealth” as its core values. It aims to build a new kind of society to teach new skills. Additionally, Srinivasan envisions a future with more Network Schools across the globe, with plans already underway for branches in cities like Dubai, Tokyo, and Miami.
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Balaji Srinivasan was born in the United States, and his Indian parents are natives of Tamil Nadu. He is known for his innovative and bold ideas. With Stanford degrees in electrical and chemical engineering, as well as experience in starting and investing in significant digital startups like Counsyl, Earn.com, and Ethereum, he has long been at the vanguard of the crypto and innovation industry. With some critics voicing their concerns, comparing it with digital colonialism, Srinivasan says that his purpose is to build better alternatives to outdated forms of administration. Whether the Network State can emerge as a viable new kind of nationhood remains to be seen, but his island experiment is the most tangible step thus far.
