Token Models for AI Projects

AI crypto projects need tokens to do something useful — pay for compute, align node operators, govern protocol parameters, or gate access to scarce GPU time. Bad token design subsidizes mercenary farmers; good design ties emissions to real usage and makes the asset legible to regulators and users.

Dual-token models separate governance from payment stablecoins to reduce volatility at checkout. Subscription NFTs grant monthly inference quotas. Bittensor-style subnets emit tokens to models ranked by peer validators — a competitive market for intelligence itself.

When evaluating a project, ask: who burns or locks tokens when a real GPU job completes? If the answer is unclear, the economics may be narrative-driven rather than demand-driven.