Who he is
Balaji Srinivasan is an American entrepreneur, investor and essayist, one of the most debated figures at the crossroads of technology, cryptocurrency and politics. With a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford, he co-founded the genomics company Counsyl (acquired by Myriad Genetics) and the platform Earn.com, acquired by Coinbase in 2018: that led to his role as Coinbase's first CTO (2018-2019). He was also a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. In 2022 he published The Network State, the book theorising digital communities capable of becoming new states: it is the project to which he has devoted the following years, first through conferences and podcasts, then with a physical campus, the Network School.
Current role
Founder and CEO of the Network School, the "school-community" launched in September 2024 in Forest City (Malaysia) as a residential campus for aspiring network state builders. (Verified: September 2026)
The Malaysian chapter came to an abrupt end: on 21-22 July 2026 the state of Johor revoked the licence and ordered activities in Forest City to cease, after weeks of public controversy and findings regarding permits. Srinivasan announced a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan to host the new campus, with promises of fast-tracked visas. As of September 2026 the move is under way and the new campus does not yet appear to be operational. (Verified: September 2026)
Career path
- 2008-2013 — Counsyl: co-founder and CTO of the genetic testing company, honoured by the Wall Street Journal and later acquired by Myriad Genetics.
- 2013-2018 — Andreessen Horowitz and Earn.com: General Partner at a16z, then CEO of Earn.com until its acquisition by Coinbase.
- 2018-2019 — CTO of Coinbase; from 2022 the "network state" phase: the book, a fund, and from 2024 the Network School.
Recent developments and controversies
- Closure in Malaysia (July 2026): licence revoked by the state of Johor and activities halted in Forest City; the school had been operating for almost two years with around 400 residents. Outcome: a move to Kazakhstan announced through an MoU. (Verified: September 2026)
- The $1 million Bitcoin bet (2023): Srinivasan publicly bet that BTC would reach $1 million within 90 days; he closed it early and paid out, with donations of around $1.5 million. Outcome: bet lost and settled.
FAQ
Does Balaji Srinivasan still work at Coinbase? No. He was Coinbase's CTO only between 2018 and 2019. Today he leads the Network School and promotes the "network state" model. (Verified: September 2026)
What is the Network School? A residential campus for entrepreneurs and "digital nomads" inspired by the book The Network State: launched in Forest City (Malaysia) in 2024, shut down by local authorities in July 2026 and in the process of moving to Kazakhstan.
See also
Verified sources
- https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/02/malaysia-is-reportedly-shutting-down-balaji-srinivasans-
- https://fortune.com/2026/07/26/network-school-balaji-srinivasan-malaysia-johor-israel-kaza
- https://technode.global/2026/07/22/us-investor-balaji-srinivasans-network-school-in-forest
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaji_Srinivasan
