--- title: "FAQ" description: "Frequently asked questions about GenLayer: Intelligent Contracts, Optimistic Democracy consensus, validators, the GenVM, and how to start building." source: https://docs.genlayer.com/FAQ last_updated: 2026-10-12 --- # FAQ What is GenLayer? GenLayer is the **adjudication layer for the agentic economy**. It uses decentralized AI-validator consensus to resolve contracts that require judgment, not just code. It runs on GenLayer Chain, an Arbitrum Orbit L2 that settles to Ethereum and uses GEN as its native gas token. Contracts on GenLayer — called **Intelligent Contracts** — can interpret language, process images, fetch live web data, and reach consensus on contested or subjective outcomes. See [What is GenLayer](/understand-genlayer-protocol/what-is-genlayer). How is GenLayer different from other blockchains? Traditional smart contracts can only execute deterministic logic and rely on external oracles for off-chain data. GenLayer integrates AI at the protocol level — contracts natively access LLMs, the web, and image processing. No oracles, no intermediaries. Where Bitcoin reached consensus on the *order* of transactions and Ethereum on the *execution* of code, GenLayer reaches consensus on the **meaning** of transactions. See [What is GenLayer](/understand-genlayer-protocol/what-is-genlayer#how-it-compares). Is GenLayer trying to replace courts? No. GenLayer is built to provide a **first-instance, internet-native adjudication layer** for disputes that arrive too quickly, too often, and too globally for traditional courts to handle in time — particularly the disputes the agentic economy is starting to produce at machine speed. It is designed to complement, not replace, existing legal frameworks. Where does GenLayer fit in the agentic-commerce stack? The agentic-commerce stack — Coinbase's [x402](https://www.x402.org/) for payments, Ethereum's [ERC-8004](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-8004) for trustless agent identity, the Linux Foundation's [A2A](https://a2a-protocol.org) for agent interoperability, plus Stripe/OpenAI's ACP, Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol, Google's AP2, and Mastercard's Agent Pay — engineers the happy path. None of these standards ships dispute resolution. GenLayer is the layer they reach for when a commitment becomes contested. What language are Intelligent Contracts written in? **Python.** Intelligent Contracts are Python classes extending `gl.Contract`. No Solidity required. See [Your First Contract](/developers/intelligent-contracts/first-contract). What is Optimistic Democracy? GenLayer's consensus mechanism. A leader validator executes the transaction and proposes a result. Other validators independently verify it and vote. If a majority agrees, the transaction is accepted. Anyone can appeal within a finality window, triggering re-evaluation by a larger validator set. See [How GenLayer Works](/understand-genlayer-protocol/optimistic-democracy-how-genlayer-works). How do validators handle non-deterministic AI results? Since LLMs and web data produce varying outputs, GenLayer provides multiple strategies: strict equality (for deterministic operations), LLM-based comparison (validators compare outputs against criteria), and custom validation functions (developers define their own leader/validator logic). See [Non-determinism](/developers/intelligent-contracts/features/non-determinism). Can contracts process images? Yes. Pass images to LLMs via `gl.nondet.exec_prompt(images=[...])`. Contracts can also capture web page screenshots with `gl.nondet.web.render(url, mode='screenshot')` and analyze them. See [Image Processing](/developers/intelligent-contracts/features/image-processing). Can contracts send and receive GEN (native token)? Yes. Use `@gl.public.write.payable` to receive value, `gl.message.value` to access the amount sent, and `emit_transfer()` to send value to other contracts or EOAs. See [Value Transfers](/developers/intelligent-contracts/features/value-transfers). Do I need to be an AI expert? No. The GenLayer SDK handles LLM calls and consensus. You write Python and call `gl.nondet.exec_prompt()` with a prompt. Validators handle model execution. GenLayer Studio provides a browser-based IDE for writing, deploying, and testing contracts. Can I run normal deterministic transactions? Yes. GenLayer fully supports deterministic logic — standard state updates, value transfers, and contract interactions all work without any AI components. You can mix deterministic and non-deterministic operations in the same contract. What are ghost contracts? Every Intelligent Contract has a corresponding ghost contract on the GenLayer Chain (EVM layer) at the same address. Ghost contracts hold the contract's GEN balance, relay transactions to consensus, and execute external messages. See [Ghost Contracts](/developers/intelligent-contracts/features/messages#ghost-contracts). What can I build? Anything requiring judgment that deterministic code alone can't resolve: performance and milestone adjudication (bounties, grants, retro funding), adjudication inside the agentic-commerce stack (agent SLAs, escrow on ambiguous completion, reputation disputes), prediction markets, insurance claims, content verification, compliance automation, AI-governed DAOs, and more. See [Use Cases](/understand-genlayer-protocol/typical-use-cases) and [projects building on GenLayer](https://portal.genlayer.foundation/#/). How do I get started? 1. Try [GenLayer Studio](https://studio.genlayer.com) in the browser — no setup needed 2. Or install the [GenLayer CLI](/api-references/genlayer-cli) for local development 3. Follow [Your First Contract](/developers/intelligent-contracts/first-contract) 4. Use [genlayer-js](/api-references/genlayer-js) or [genlayer-py](/api-references/genlayer-py) for app integration How is the network secured? Through delegated proof of stake and Optimistic Democracy: - Token holders delegate stake to validators, incentivizing honest behavior - Multiple validators independently verify each transaction - Appeals provide a failsafe — dishonest validators get slashed - GenLayer Chain is an Arbitrum Orbit rollup that settles to Ethereum How can I contribute? - Join the community on [Discord](https://discord.gg/8Jm4v89VAu) or [Telegram](https://t.me/genlayer) - Contribute to the [GitHub repositories](https://github.com/genlayerlabs) - [We're hiring](https://x.com/GenLayer/jobs)