Indian-Origin Entrepreneur Buys Island Near Singapore to Build ‘New Country’ for Tech Founders

Balaji Srinivasan envisions a digital-first, decentralised nation for technologists and innovators, starting with an experimental “Network School” on a private island.

July 2, 2025 | Singapore/Malaysia:
In a bold move blending technology, governance, and utopian vision, Balaji S. Srinivasan, a prominent Indian-origin tech entrepreneur and former CTO of Coinbase, has acquired a private island near Singapore to build what he calls a “Network State”—a digital-first, decentralised country designed for tech founders, innovators, and digital nomads.

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The announcement, first revealed through TechCrunch and amplified on social media, marks a major milestone in Srinivasan’s long-held vision of building sovereign digital communities. It is the physical manifestation of the ideas outlined in his 2022 book, The Network State: How to Start a New Country.

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A Nation of the Future

The island now hosts The Network School, launched in September 2024, where students live, learn, and train in a controlled environment designed to promote truth, health, and wealth. It combines gym culture, cutting-edge AI education, blockchain training, and startup incubation, with the aim of cultivating a community of next-generation builders.

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“Through the power of Bitcoin, we now have a beautiful island near Singapore where we’re building the Network School,” Srinivasan wrote on X.

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Who Is Balaji Srinivasan?

Srinivasan, born to Indian parents in New York, is a Stanford-educated engineer and serial entrepreneur. He co-founded Counsyl, a genetics company sold for $375 million, as well as Earn.com (acquired by Coinbase), and held senior roles at Andreessen Horowitz, Teleport, and Coin Centre.

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An early backer of Bitcoin, Ethereum, OpenSea, and Alchemy, Srinivasan is known for his radical takes on decentralisation, personal sovereignty, and reimagining traditional governance structures.

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What is the Network State?

A Network State, as defined by Srinivasan, is an online-first community united by shared ideals that eventually gains physical territory and seeks global diplomatic recognition. His long-term plan involves building global hubs in Dubai, Tokyo, Miami, and beyond.

The school on the island currently brings together tech founders, remote workers, fitness enthusiasts, and digital creators for a three-month residential bootcamp. It includes:

• Daily gym training
• Workshops in AI, crypto, and software
• Group learning on entrepreneurship and governance
• Community-building activities with an ethos of “win-and-help-win”

Participants are encouraged to not only build personal success but also shape the foundations of an entirely new digital society.

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Critics and Support

While Srinivasan’s followers hail him as a visionary reformer, critics see echoes of modern digital colonialism in his ambition to build private societies. Still, the experiment is attracting global attention from governments, VCs, and young tech leaders seeking alternatives to conventional systems.

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What’s Next?

The island near Singapore is just the beginning. Balaji Srinivasan plans to expand his Network School model globally, and eventually create a recognized network state, powered by blockchain, community governance, and decentralised finance.

As he puts it, “We’re building for a world that doesn’t exist yet—but soon will.”

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Tags:
Balaji Srinivasan, Network State, private island Singapore, tech utopia, startup nation, decentralised governance, digital country, The Network School, tech founders island, crypto nation, Bitcoin governance, digital sovereignty, Stanford entrepreneur, CoinBase CTO, future of democracy