Arthur Hayes Releases Futures Blueprint for AI Computing Resources, Pricing Based on FLOP

Key Points of This Article

• Pricing of AI computing resources calculated based on the cryptocurrency FLOP
• Ability to reserve and trade computing resources for up to 30 days in FLOP

Futures Design for Computing Resources

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange BitMEX, released a blueprint on the 27th on his blog for entrepreneurs looking to create a market for futures and perpetual futures targeting AI computing resources. The blueprint outlines a pricing mechanism based on the FLOP network, which is part of Hayes' cryptocurrency project for AI agents.

As a starting point for this blueprint, Hayes pointed out that there is no universal price for AI computing resources, and that the data for tracking the prices of tokens (units of usage) for chips and AI models is incomplete. He argued that one should understand the price of the computing resources themselves, which serve as the basis for the prices of chips and tokens.

To address this, Hayes proposed a method to derive the price of computing resources in FLOP by calculating the processing time and computational load of AI inference (the process of deriving answers) recorded on the FLOP network, along with transaction fees. He indicated that if the FLOP network is an open system accessible to everyone and used as a payment network for AI agents, this price could become a global standard.

In addition to pricing calculations, the network includes a unit called "FCU" that allows users to reserve computing resources for inference up to 30 days in advance and trade those rights, suggesting that futures trading can be replicated through combinations of FCUs.

Hayes also presented a proposal for quarterly and perpetual futures based on an index called "FRCR," which aggregates this price every hour, with margins and profits calculated in USD.

Overview of FLOP and Future Plans

The FLOP, which serves as the foundation for this concept, is a cryptocurrency for AI agents to purchase computing resources, developed by Hayes' Flop Lab. He described it in August as the "food for AI agents."

However, the technical specifications and verification mechanisms for FLOP are still in draft stage, and the timeline is not yet confirmed. The goal is to launch a testnet and airdrop in Q4 2026, with the mainnet expected to start in Q1 2027.

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