Ex-Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan's Network School shut in Malaysia, signs MOU with Kazakhstan for new campus

Published Jul 26, 04:30 AM UTC

Balaji Srinivasan, former Coinbase CTO and tech utopian, was forced to shut down his Network School in Malaysia after a social media video sparked a regulatory crackdown. Malaysian authorities revoked the school's business and advertising licenses on July 21, citing licensing and premises-use violations, following allegations that Israeli nationals attended the program. Malaysia does not recognize Israel and bars Israeli passport holders. The probe found no travel document violations, but the closure proceeded. The next day, Srinivasan signed an MOU with Kazakhstan to establish a new campus, promising expedited visas and streamlined redomiciliation for global techno-optimists. The saga highlights tensions over crypto-friendly tech utopianism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and China's real estate crash. The Network School, launched in 2024 as a 90-day pilot, offered co-living for technopreneurs at $1,500/month. The dispute has escalated into a diplomatic incident, with the U.S. summoning Malaysia's ambassador.