# Overview of the Protocol Stack *A modular system aligning identity, compute, and incentives.* The ArtisanAI protocol is structured as a vertically layered architecture, with each layer responsible for a distinct but interlinked function in the decentralized creative workflow. This modular approach enables scalability, composability, and protocol-level enforceability, allowing creative operations to remain permissionless, programmable, and financially transparent. #### Identity Layer At the base of the Artisan stack lies a wallet-native authentication system. Unlike traditional Web2 platforms that require email/password registration or OAuth dependencies, ArtisanAI relies solely on cryptographic keypairs associated with non-custodial wallets (e.g., Phantom, MetaMask, Backpack). This approach provides: * Sovereign identity without third-party intermediaries * Persistent user mapping across models, content, and reputation * DAO-native participation in protocol governance from day zero The identity layer serves not only as a login mechanism but as the anchor for attribution, access control, and reputation accrual. #### Attribution Layer At the core of creative legitimacy lies the Attribution Layer, which is responsible for registering, verifying, and managing the provenance of generated content and deployed models. This layer ensures that every creative unit — whether original or derivative — has traceable lineage and irrefutable authorship. When an asset is created or uploaded, it is: * Hashed deterministically to produce a content fingerprint * Linked to the creator’s wallet via smart contract * Stamped with a protocol-level metadata schema, including prompt, input type, model used, and timestamp * Indexed within a decentralized content registry for discovery and curation #### Execution Layer The Execution Layer routes prompt or task requests to the appropriate AI model, manages compute processes, and logs inference results, ensuring the execution environment is not bottlenecked by proprietary compute systems but remains permissionless and creator-configurable. * Models can be deployed by any user, licensed for private or public use * Tasks are routed dynamically based on availability, priority tier, and metered cost * Execution logs are anchored on-chain for auditability and provenance extension * The layer supports multiple model formats (transformers, diffusion, LLMs, etc.), enabling multi-modal interaction #### Incentive Layer In ArtisanAI, value generation and value distribution are tightly coupled. The Incentive Layer operationalizes the $ART token as a multi-role utility and reward medium across the protocol. Key functions include: * Compute Metering: Every execution is denominated in $ART based on resource consumption * Reward Allocation: Creators, model deployers, and curators earn $ART through usage, remixing, or social interaction * Staking & Discovery: Users can stake $ART to boost visibility of content or models, creating a curation-as-infrastructure mechanism * Access Gating: Exclusive models, storage layers, or DAO proposals can require $ART holdings or usage --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.artisanaiai.xyz/designing-the-creator-protocol-architecture-and-interfaces/overview-of-the-protocol-stack.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.