This Week in Startups

Rebuilding Civilization from First Principles: Inside Balaji’s Network State Vision | E2145

381 snips
Jun 30, 2025
Guest
Balaji Srinivasan
Balaji Srinivasan, an entrepreneur and former CTO of Coinbase, shares his vision for decentralized societies through concepts like Network School. He discusses how these "sharp societies" empower communities with shared values, merging education and co-living. Balaji highlights the growing trend of digital nomads seeking alternatives to traditional governance, as well as the implications for democracy and the future of Bitcoin. The conversation also touches on America’s changing role in a multipolar world and the rising influence of new economic models.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Migration as a Stacked Choice

  • For immigrants, choosing a country resembles picking a college and employer, forming a stacked pathway of migration.
  • Network School helps improve passports and access to visas, enabling global mobility and opportunity.
INSIGHT

America's Waning Global Reputation

  • Global perception of America is deteriorating with concerns about unreliability and exclusion.
  • This causes successful foreigners and elites to prefer other countries for business and education.
INSIGHT

Decline of American Empire

  • The American empire peaked post-1939 with global institutions and influence, but overreach erodes core strength.
  • Left and right critiques, plus foreign rivalries, signal the empire's decline and transition to a multipolar future.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app