In one of the most groundbreaking moves in the history of tech entrepreneurship, Balaji Srinivasan, an Indian-origin entrepreneur and former CTO of Coinbase, has acquired a private island near Singapore to build a tech startup country — a place where coders, founders, and digital nomads can thrive without borders, bureaucracy, or outdated governance.
This isn’t science fiction — it’s a real-life blueprint for a blockchain-powered, crypto-friendly, decentralized nation, being tested right now by some of the world’s smartest minds.
The location is strategic — a private island near Singapore, a global hub for technology, fintech, and innovation. By building this new network state close to Southeast Asia’s most powerful digital economy, Balaji ensures the future tech nation has access to both high-speed connectivity and international recognition.
This island will serve as a launchpad for Web3 startups, crypto-based governance systems, and AI-powered public infrastructure — the kind of systems traditional countries often resist.
To kick off his vision, Srinivasan launched the Network School — a three-month experimental residency on the island. Here, selected tech founders, engineers, thinkers, and futurists live together and design the framework of the world’s first country for techies.
Their days are structured with:
It’s an incubator, bootcamp, and real-life simulation of a Web3 country, all in one.
Born to Tamil-origin doctors in New York, Balaji holds four degrees from Stanford, including a PhD in electrical engineering. He co-founded multiple successful ventures like Counsyl and Earn.com, and was a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. He is also the author of “The Network State”, where he explains how online communities can eventually become digital-first nations.
Now, this Indian-origin entrepreneur is bringing his book to life — one island at a time.
This tech startup country isn’t just about freedom — it’s about building smart infrastructure from scratch. The plan includes:
The goal is to create a blockchain nation — a fully functioning society run on smart technology, ethical principles, and decentralized values.
To stay rooted in his heritage while pushing boundaries, Balaji is reportedly introducing electric rickshaws on the island. These aren’t just for convenience — they symbolize the blend of India’s local innovations with futuristic planning.
Imagine this: developers commuting in silent, solar-powered rickshaws, writing code that governs a new world — truly, a digital citizenship experience with Indian soul and global vision.
Of course, many are skeptical. Can a blockchain-powered digital nation ever gain global recognition? Will countries accept tokenized passports or NFT-based IDs? What about security, law, and diplomatic challenges?
Despite the doubts, investors, founders, and Web3 communities around the world are watching closely. Balaji’s initiative could redefine not just startups — but how we define a country.
Balaji Srinivasan isn’t just building a new company. He’s building a new model of civilization — where entrepreneurs lead, innovation is law, and tech founders and coders shape the future.
With electric rickshaws for green mobility, blockchain systems for transparency, and AI for governance, this is more than a utopia — it’s the beginning of a new era of digital-first nations.
And it all starts on an island… just off Singapore.