Former Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) investor, Balaji Srinivasan has taken a bold step, reserving an island near Singapore to launch his innovative ‘Network School‘, where he plans to offer programs focused on cryptocurrency, longevity, and the essentials of building a ‘technocapitalist college town‘, as he described it in his announcement earlier this week.
“It’s the most meaningful milestone yet for Srinivasan’s dream of creating “network states,” which he defines as an internet community that secures a physical location and “gains diplomatic recognition from pre-existing states,” Srinivasan said about the development
Srinivasan’s innovative concept has captivated the libertarian segment of Silicon Valley, garnering acclaim from prominent figures like Marc Andreessen, General Partner of Andreessen Horowitz; and Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum. This enthusiasm has inspired fellow cryptocurrency enthusiasts to establish their own ‘network states’. Srinivasan’s credentials include his tenure at Andreessen Horowitz until 2018, followed by a stint as Coinbase’s CTO after the company acquired his startup Earn.com. Additionally, he serves on the board of Coin Center, a nonprofit organization advocating for cryptocurrency policies, such as anonymity for crypto holders from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Balaji Srinivasan’s 90-day school, launching in late September, will offer lectures on digital nomadism and meals crafted by Bryan Johnson, who famously spent millions on ‘de-aging’ treatments. Srinivasan stresses that the program is ideal for individuals who “understand that Bitcoin succeeds the Federal Reserve,” and “that AI can deliver better opinions than any Delaware magistrate” and “that democracy can be rejuvenated with cryptography.”
Srinivasan, the author of the 2022 book ‘The Network State‘, is not alone in his pursuit of internet-based sovereign nations. Inspired by Srinivasan, Vitalik Buterin launched his own ‘network state’ called Zuzalu in Montenegro last spring. The two-month gathering attracted notable guests like musician Grimes and Patri Friedman, who received funding from Peter Thiel for his seafaring society. Participants engaged in a unique regimen, including continuous glucose monitoring, daily cold plunges in the Adriatic Sea, and lectures on diverse topics such as sex work and zero-knowledge cryptography.
While Srinivasan’s long-term plans for the island are still unknown, network states generally aim to secure recognition from local governments, whether through full sovereignty or special economic zones. Zuzalu’s organizers met with Montenegro officials to discuss “creating a similar long-term home for pro-longevity devotees,” according to the MIT Technology Review. Another network state, Prospera, backed by Friedman, achieved success in lobbying Honduras for an economic zone with low taxes and regulations favorable to startups.
Balaji Srinivasan is now accepting applications for his network school, but warns that individuals who hold the current world order in high esteem are not ideal candidates. “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,” he said
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