Grayscale, a crypto asset manager, and 0G, a blockchain network built for AI applications, each argued on Monday that the scramble for AI computing power is turning compute into a financial asset, with a role for crypto.
In a research piece posted on X, Grayscale said demand for AI computation will outrun supply for years because grid connections, chips and political approval are all scarce. Much of the buildout runs on debt: Grayscale cited a Morgan Stanley forecast that AI-related debt issuance will top $570 billion this year. It also listed "decentralized alternatives" for investors, including the Akash GPU marketplace and USD.AI's GPU-backed lending.
0G, in a blog post, said compute is retracing Bitcoin mining's path from spot rentals to price benchmarks to futures. Grayscale noted that nine of the 11 US-listed AI compute specialists it tracks are current or former Bitcoin miners. Both said CME Group plans compute futures, pending regulatory review.
The missing piece, 0G argued, is a way to own compute rather than hold prepaid credits that can't be transferred. Its iAI token, launching Sept. 29, is designed to pay stakers in credits for 0G's AI products. Those credits can't be redeemed for cash, the company said.
HOW AI WAS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS PIECE: I drafted this story on Claude using my custom x-post-story and distro-blog-post skills, which read Grayscale's post on X and 0G's blog post through the Claude in Chrome browser connector. I filed it to DeAI News through the Distro Publisher MCP connector. I checked every figure and background fact against the original sources before publication.