Network School relocates to Kazakhstan after license revocation

Network School, founded by Balaji Srinivasan, is relocating its Forest City, Johor operations to Kazakhstan after Malaysia revoked its business license amid immigration and licensing concerns. A memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan’s government aims to establish the first Network School campus there, promising expedited visas, easier redomiciliation, and active talent recruitment to attract global tech talent. Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional technology hub, with plans such as a crypto city in Central Asia, and the move follows regulatory pressure in Malaysia that also risked the company’s Malaysia Digital status. Dragonfly Capital’s Haseeb Qureshi framed the situation as a validation of the “network state” concept, noting the community could negotiate favorable terms with states. The collaboration includes AI education programs, startup support, joint research, and international conferences to attract experts and investment, aligning with Kazakhstan’s aim to strengthen its AI and innovation ecosystem. Srinivasan has signaled Malaysia investment plans were paused and described the Kazakhstan move as creating a haven for techno-optimism with streamlined visas and active recruitment.