Tech visionaries testing the concept: Constructing entire countries

Tech visionaries testing the concept: Constructing entire countries - Forest City's trial run in Malaysia

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In the heart of Southeast Asia, Forest City, a megaproject initially designed to house 50 times its current population, is serving as a testing ground for a revolutionary concept. This concept, known as "start-up societies," has been circulating in Silicon Valley and the cryptocurrency community for over a decade but has yet to gain wider acceptance.

The visionary behind this movement is Balaji Srinivasan, a former Coinbase executive and author, who is currently hosting his Network School in Forest City. In a world where people traditionally choose their colleges at 18, Srinivasan envisions a future where individuals will have the option to choose their country.

Forest City offers distinct advantages for Srinivasan's project. With low rents and easy access to Singapore and its international airport, the location provides a strategic base for the testing and potential global rollout of the "start-up societies" concept. The authorities have further increased its appeal by designating Forest City as a duty-free zone and offering a zero per cent tax rate for family offices.

The election of US President Donald Trump has provided tailwind for Srinivasan's project. Trump's cryptocurrency-friendly policies and stance against regulatory overreach resonate with Srinivasan's vision. In fact, the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong served as a venue for Srinivasan's keynote speech.

However, Forest City is facing challenges as a troubled megaproject. Despite these hurdles, authorities are taking measures to increase its appeal, with the hope that it will become a hub for Srinivasan's "start-up societies." Srinivasan himself is confident that the world is ready for his brand of nation-state disruption, and he sees Forest City as a test case for this global movement.

Despite the lack of explicit confirmation, it is believed that the location of Network School in Forest City played a role in Srinivasan's choice. The advantages offered by the location, such as its strategic position, favourable policies, and duty-free status, make it an ideal testing ground for Srinivasan's vision of a future where individuals can choose their nation based on shared beliefs in technology, cryptocurrency, and light regulation.

As the "start-up societies" concept continues to manifest in Forest City, it remains to be seen how this experiment will shape the future of global governance."

Tech visionaries testing the concept: Constructing entire countries - Forest City's trial run in Malaysia