Balaji Srinivasan has paused further investment in Malaysia and is seeking a formal agreement with the government after authorities investigated his Network School community in Johor’s Forest City.
Summary
- Network School pauses further Malaysia investment while seeking written assurances after authorities investigate residency claims.
- Malaysian immigration checks found all 266 foreign residents held valid documents, with investigations still continuing.
- Srinivasan says a $122 million expansion remains frozen unless Malaysia provides sufficient legal certainty first.
The former Coinbase chief technology officer said he wants written assurance that the project and its participants are welcome before committing more capital.
The dispute began after social media allegations claimed that Israeli citizens were staying at the community while using second-country passports. However, Malaysia’s Immigration Department later said all 266 foreigners inspected held valid travel documents. Officials said further checks would continue if new evidence raised questions about identity, permits, or immigration rules.
Balaji seeks written deal with Malaysia
Srinivasan said he wants more than broad statements supporting technology investment. In a video posted on X and addressed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he asked for a document confirming that Network School can continue operating and investing in Malaysia with greater legal certainty.
“I’d like to have a document which says not just abstractly that tech is welcome … but rather that we’re personally welcome,” Srinivasan said.
He suggested that the arrangement could take the form of a memorandum of understanding or changes linked to a special economic zone provision.
$122 million expansion plan put on hold
Meanwhile, Srinivasan said Network School would pause further investment in Malaysia until it receives “sufficient assurance” that similar disputes will not happen again. The decision includes a planned $122 million expansion of the community, according to reporting on his statement.
He also warned that the project could move its capital elsewhere. “If not, then we will readily go somewhere else because I don’t want to be where we’re not welcome,” Srinivasan said. Still, he did not name alternative locations or give a deadline for reaching an agreement with Malaysian authorities.
Immigration checks find valid documents
The investigation followed claims shared by activist group Malaysian Protest 4 Palestine in an Instagram post, which accused Network School of hosting Israeli entrepreneurs. Malaysian authorities then reviewed the status of foreign residents at the Forest City site.
However, the Immigration Department said its initial inspection found valid documents for 266 foreigners from 40 countries. Reuters also reported that Malaysia bars entry to Israeli passport holders without special permission but has no specific law banning Israelis who enter using another country’s passport.
Therefore, the document checks did not establish the social media allegations, while officials said further investigations could continue if new information emerged.
Network School faces new test in Forest City
Srinivasan launched Network School in 2024 as a physical community for founders, technologists, and other builders. The project operates in Forest City, a large Johor development near Singapore, and forms part of his broader idea of internet-based communities building permanent physical hubs.
As crypto.news reported in June, Forest City also hosted Q-Day, a blockchain security event where Srinivasan was listed among the speakers. More recently, he was announced as a headline speaker for Bitcoin Asia 2026 in Hong Kong.
