# @vgr: AI stack vs crypto stack, 15 layers from power to regulation

Source: https://farcaster.xyz/vgr/0x509b6877
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/vgr-AI-stack-vs-crypto-stack-15-layers-from-power-to-regulation?index=0x69093dc2c5a212d451fb508f522fedc679a06014742c07f25ec4bd90d595292b91f1e194
Submitted by misha on 2025-11-03 UTC, 4 upvotes, 0 comments

## Summary

@vgr sets out the AI stack and the crypto stack as parallel 15-layer models, running from power sources to cynical regulation. Both begin with power sources and GPUs, and the crypto list asks whether blockchains are comparable to AI models at layer 7. Both stacks put a "corner case forcing function" at layer 10, paranoid and lonely people for AI and degens and grifters for crypto, and both end with visionary FAFOers, techlash critics and cynical regulation politicians. The crypto list also flags a missing layer and labels stablecoins as "crypto slop."

## Article

AI stack:

1. Power sources
2. GPUs
3. Cuda/alt kernel levels
4. Data movement magic sauce <— largest models
5. PyTorch
6. Frameworks (transformers, CNNs, diffusion)
7. Models
8. MCP etc <—- still fragile
9. Apps, agents, and APIs
10. Paranoid and lonely people <— corner case forcing function
11. Deepfake and disinformation markets (politics, porn)
12. Information economy slop
13. Visionary FAFOers
14. Techlash pearlclutchers
15. Cynical regulation politicians

Crypto stack:

1. Power sources [PoW]
2. GPUs, CPUs, ASICs
3. Cryptography
4. Zero-knowledge magic sauce
5. [ feels like there’s a layer here ]
6. Engineering crypto primitives (merkle trees etc)
7. Blockchains and blueskyish anti-chain things <—- comparable to models?
8. RPCs, sequencers, IPFS, bridges type things
9. Wallets, exchanges and other chain agnostic tech
10. Degens and grifters <— corner case forcing function
11. Money laundering, ransomware crime markets
12. Stablecoins <— this is crypto slop
13. Visionary FAFOers
14. Techlash pearlclutchers
15. Cynical regulation politicians