Depending on how you feel about the intersection of crypto and Silicon Valley libertarianism, this is either a dream idea or a bizarre one: Former a16z investor Balaji Srinivasan has rented out an island in Singapore to create his own “Network School,” where he’ll run programs on crypto, longevity, and what it takes to set up a “technocapitalist college town.” As he posted Announce this initiative.
This marks the most significant milestone yet for Srinivasan's dream of creating a “network nation,” which he defines as an Internet community that has a physical location and “gains diplomatic recognition from existing nation states,” he wrote.
The concept has fascinated Silicon Valley's libertarian scene. Srinivasan has been praised by Marc Andreessen and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and has inspired fellow crypto enthusiasts to start their own “network nation.” In addition to his work at a16z, from which he left in 2018, Srinivasan is known for serving as CTO of his crypto startup, Earn.com, after Coinbase acquired it in 2018. He also serves on the board of directors of the Coin Center, a nonprofit crypto advocacy and lobbying group that has promoted policies such as the anonymization of cryptocurrency holders by the Internal Revenue Service.
Srinivasan said the 90-day school will begin in late September and will feature lectures on topics like digital nomadism and a diet designed by Brian Johnson, the longevity-obsessed entrepreneur who made headlines last year after spending millions on a “rejuvenation” regime. Emphasizedis perfect for people who understand that “Bitcoin will succeed the Federal Reserve,” “AI can make better decisions than any Delaware magistrate,” and “cryptography can invigorate democracy.”
Srinivasan, who will publish a book on network nations in 2022, is not the only one aiming for a collective sovereign internet state. Last spring, Buterin founded his own Srinivasan-inspired “network nation” in Montenegro, calling it Zuzal. Guests have included musician Grimes and entrepreneur Patri Friedman, who raised millions from Peter Thiel to create an oceanfront society. For two months, participants wore continuous glucose monitors, took daily cold dips in the Adriatic Sea and attended lectures on everything from sex work to zero-knowledge cryptography.
While Srinivasan hasn't disclosed plans to establish a permanent base on the island, the goal of network nations is often to secure some sort of recognition from local governments, whether that be full sovereignty or a special economic zone. According to MIT Technology Review, Zuzal organizers have met with Montenegrin officials to discuss “the creation of a similar long-term base for longevity advocates.” Prospera, another network nation backed by Friedman, successfully lobbied Honduras to establish an economic zone that would offer companies low taxes and startup-friendly regulations.
Srinivasan is currently accepting applications for admission to the new network school, but he warns that those attached to the current world order should not apply: “The more you respect traditional institutions and they respect you, the less of a good applicant you will be.”” he wrote.