--- 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: 2026-06-11 --- # 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's built as an L2 on zkSync Elastic Chain, anchoring to Ethereum's security. 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 - The system anchors to Ethereum via zkSync for finality 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)