Coinbase Ventures - Demystifying the Crypto x AI Stack - October 2024
FreeUnderstanding the convergence of crypto and AI with the Agentic Web
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About Coinbase Ventures - Demystifying the Crypto x AI Stack - October 2024
An article by Jonathan King from Coinbase Ventures that explores the convergence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence. It introduces the concept of the 'Agentic Web' where AI agents operating on crypto infrastructure become significant economic drivers. The article breaks down the crypto x AI stack into four layers: Compute, Data, Middleware, and Applications. It argues that crypto can enhance AI with distribution, verifiability, censorship-resistance, and native payment rails, while AI can power new onchain experiences. Published in October 2024.
Key Features
Crypto x AI stack segmented into Compute, Data, Middleware, and Applications
Introduces the 'Agentic Web' where AI agents transact on crypto infrastructure
Core thesis: crypto provides distribution, verifiability, censorship-resistance, and payment rails for AI
Preliminary beliefs: crypto as preferred payment rail for agent commerce, generative AI as primary onchain interface, AI creating majority of smart contracts
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Increases accessibility and transparency of AI
- Enables verifiability and censorship-resistance of AI models and data
- Provides native payment rails for AI agents
- Opens new onchain use cases via generative AI and natural-language interfaces
Cons
- Does not claim blockchain is required for every layer of the AI stack
- The convergence is complex and still speculative
Best For
Decentralized AI infrastructure (Crypto → AI): building peer-to-peer compute and data networksOnchain AI (AI → Crypto): leveraging AI to power new user experiences and smart contractsAgent-to-human and agent-to-agent commerce using crypto wallets and stablecoinsUser ownership and governance of AI models through blockchain