Indian-American tech entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has booked a private island near Singapore to start his 90-day programme called “Network School”. This experimental project will explore topics like cryptocurrency, longevity science, and new ways of running societies. Srinivasan describes the school as a “technocapitalist college town”.
Announcing the plan in a personal post, Srinivasan invited people to apply. However, he made it clear that the school is not for those who still believe in the traditional systems of government and institutions. “The more respect you have for legacy institutions, and the more respect they have for you, the less suitable you’ll be as an applicant,” Srinivasan wrote.
The programme will begin in late September and is part of Srinivasan’s bigger dream to build “network states” — digital communities that eventually take shape in the real world and aim to be officially recognised by existing countries.
What is a ‘network state’?
Srinivasan defines a network state as an online community that grows into a physical place and seeks recognition from existing governments. He explained this idea in his 2022 book, which became popular in Silicon Valley, especially among supporters of crypto and libertarian ideals.
He has received praise from well-known figures like Vitalik Buterin (co-founder of Ethereum) and Marc Andreessen (venture capitalist).
Srinivasan previously worked as a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Coinbase, a major crypto exchange. He is also on the board of Coin Center, a group that supports crypto privacy and policy reforms.
What will the school offer?
The three-month programme will include talks on digital nomadism (working remotely while traveling), crypto-based governance, and anti-aging research. Meals will be specially designed by Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur known for spending millions trying to reverse aging.
Story continues below this ad
Srinivasan says the school is for people who believe that:
- “Bitcoin succeeds the Federal Reserve”
- “AI can deliver better opinions than any Delaware magistrate,” and
- “Democracy can be rejuvenated with cryptography”
This is not the first time someone has tried to create a real-world version of a digital community. Last year, Vitalik Buterin launched a temporary network state called Zuzalu in Montenegro. It was attended by tech leaders, artists like Grimes, and thinkers such as Patri Friedman, who supports creating new societies at sea.
Zuzalu included lectures, cold plunges, and biohacking activities.
Another project, Prospera in Honduras, supported by Peter Thiel’s funding, created a special economic zone with low taxes and crypto-friendly laws.
Srinivasan is currently accepting applications for the school.
(With inputs from TechCrunch)
