Balaji Srinivasan, the mysterious applicant for the online school, described the admission requirements as “sneaky” and “too far a bridge,” despite being unaware of the school’s location and being informed that they had only two days to pay the first month’s rent in advance. The online school is a new concept of a technological fraternity proposed by the former CTO of Coinbase.
He introduced the idea of a “decentralized,” internet-based nation referred to as a “network state.” Srinivasan characterized the network state as “a highly allied online community capable of collective action to crowdfund territory around the world and ultimately gain diplomatic recognition from existing nations.” He stated that at this point, the purpose of the online school is to “revitalize democracy for the internet age” and to “pursue truth, health, and wealth by elevating the personal, physical, and professional levels of our participants.”
Successful applicants are expected to pay $1,000 monthly to live with others, or $2,000 for a private room. However, for some, this was perceived as excessive given the risks involved at the time. A potential student told Wired that remitting money without knowing key details was “too far a bridge.” “I discussed this with some friends, and they said, ‘Wow, this sounds too sneaky,’ and I agreed,” they said.
Brian Johnson, a millionaire obsessed with survival, is reportedly attending the school for health classes. Others discussing their applications on Reddit expressed feeling pressured by the urgent payment demands, calling it “rough.” The school’s location was finally revealed this week to be Forest City in Malaysia. However, the 150 admitted students may find themselves somewhat isolated, as Forest City is known as a “ghost town” due to its sparse population. Reports detail closed shops, vacant apartments, and a failure to attract buyers. Insider sources describe the shops as nearly abandoned, with much of the city appearing empty.
Worse still, a study has attributed significant environmental damage to Forest City, with a Malaysian scientist claiming that parts of the city are sinking due to the rapid pace of its development. Whether this project will lead to growth remains to be seen, especially as it joins the list of troubled crypto island projects.
Got news? Email us or ProtonMail. For more information, follow us on ten, a photo-sharing app, Blue Sky, and Google News, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
