Indian American tech entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has taken a futuristic leap by acquiring a private island near Singapore to begin building his concept of a “Network State.” Srinivasan, co-founder of the genetic testing company Counsyl and former Chief Technology Officer at Coinbase, envisions this space as a decentralized society driven by innovation, technology, and community-led governance.
A New York native raised on Long Island, Srinivasan was born to Tamil-origin physicians Bhavani and Subramaniam Srinivasan, both highly respected in the Indian American community. Academically accomplished, he holds multiple degrees—including a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Chemical Engineering—from Stanford University.
His current island project is a physical manifestation of his ideas published in the 2022 book The Network State: How to Start a New Country. The core idea? Digital-first communities bonded by shared values like crypto, decentralization, and entrepreneurship that eventually claim physical space and pursue sovereign recognition.
One glimpse into this emerging society came via Instagram, where Network School participant Nick Peterson posted a video showcasing daily life on the island. Days are filled with strength training, blockchain lectures, AI development courses, and startup ideation—creating an environment he dubbed “a haven for builders and fitness lovers.”
The Network School, launched in Malaysia in 2024, now operates its newest residency from the island, hosting global technologists, remote creators, personal trainers, and crypto founders in three-month live-in programs.
Srinivasan aims to replicate this model globally, with future hubs planned in major innovation centers like Dubai, Tokyo, and Miami. The island serves as a prototype for what he hopes will become a new model of self-governed, digital-forward micro-societies.
By blending real estate, tech, and governance reform, Srinivasan is not just theorizing about new nations—he’s building one from scratch. His island initiative may very well mark the beginning of a new kind of global citizenry rooted in decentralized values.
