Booted from Malaysia, tech guru Balaji Srinivasan finds a new patron for his ‘nomad’ commune: Kazakhstan

fortune.com Jul 26, 2026

Booted from Malaysia, tech guru Balaji Srinivasan finds a new patron for his ‘nomad’ commune: Kazakhstan

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Balaji Srinivasan, former Coinbase CTO, relocated his Network School from Malaysia to Kazakhstan after Malaysian authorities revoked its business license on July 21. The shutdown followed a social media controversy alleging Israeli nationals attended the program, violating Malaysia’s policy of not recognizing Israel. Although an investigation found no travel document violations, the Iskandar Puteri City Council cited breaches of licensing and premises-use conditions. Johor’s chief minister supported the decision, ordering an immediate cessation of activities. The incident escalated into a diplomatic dispute when Malaysia ordered a dual U.S.-Israel citizen to leave, prompting the U.S. State Department to summon the Malaysian ambassador. Srinivasan quickly signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan, promising expedited visas and talent recruitment for his new campus. He described the move as establishing a haven for global techno-optimism. The Network School, launched as a pilot in 2024, expanded into a year-long program in 2025, functioning as a co-living space for technology enthusiasts seeking to build a “network state.”

💡 Why It Matters

· The rapid relocation underscores the fragility of tech-led political experiments when they clash with entrenched geopolitical tensions.
· It demonstrates how digital communities remain vulnerable to traditional regulatory enforcement and diplomatic friction, regardless of their online influence.

Read full article on fortune.com

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