Vibe coding has become a hot topic among start-ups and tech companies as more and more CEOs admit to using it as a way to cut costs and build innovative tools without hiring engineers. What is it and is it a perfect fit for the crypto space?
Coined by OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy in February 2025, the term “vibe coding” refers to the method of using AI to generate codes that developers can use to build applications and tools without prior knowledge of coding necessary. In the words of Karpathy in his X post, this approach allows developers to “fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.”
In order to vibe code, all the user has to do is describe what kind of code they need in a few sentences and the AI will do the work, providing the user with the full code line that requires no further adjustments or technical understanding. Therefore, people with no knowledge of coding could use AI to build software and apps that they previously could not due to the coding barrier.
With how rapidly this trend is spreading, it is no wonder that some builders in the crypto industry have begun to contemplate its use in the space. In fact, companies like aelf Ventures and Y Combinator have been exploring vibe coding as a way to empower new blockchain projects.
Considering how much the crypto and web3 industry values fast-paced development and welcomes new innovations and tools, vibe coding could fill the need for rapid creation and become an entry point for potential crypto industry players with no coding knowledge.
Is vibe coding really a perfect fit for the crypto industry?
How can vibe coding benefit the crypto industry?
Some traders have highlighted the need for more developers to create tools and innovations on-chain. One X user with the handle @0xNairolf said that the crypto industry needs to worry more about developer onboarding, rather than user onboarding.
Others who agree with the user have pointed out that the crypto industry should focus on providing more tools to make it easier for developers to build more innovative apps on-chain.
Some users have also underlined how developers are leaving crypto because the space has made it harder for them to build new projects because more complex innovations require niche coding language beyond their capabilities.
In this case, vibe coding could solve the developer onboarding problem by lowering the technical entry barrier. Non-technical founders or teams with limited coding expertise can describe their ideas to AI and have it generate the underlying code necessary. This way, more people with unique ideas but no coding experience could join the crypto industry as builders and introduce new innovations through AI-generated coding.
With the help of AI, teams could focus on the less technical aspect of establishing projects in the crypto space, like funding, tokenomics, user experience, and blockchain solutions. This method can be especially beneficial for complex crypto projects where aligning technical execution with broader economic or governance models is critical.
In the crypto industry, where new protocols and regulatory changes emerge frequently, speed is a crucial element. Therefore, vibe coding could speed up the building process and allow teams to churn out new innovations to keep up with the demand of a rapidly evolving industry.
The potential drawbacks of vibe coding for crypto projects
Amid the discourse surrounding developer onboarding in the crypto space, one X user with the handle @metahacker argued that the problem does not lie with the lack of developers or tools in the space. Instead, they believe that the nature of crypto projects itself makes the technical foundation an even more determining factor.
“The fact that you’re dealing with money AND smart contracts can’t be updated easily AND rampant exploits,” wrote @metahacker_ in their post.
Therefore, the user discourages developers or project teams from relying on “the ‘vibe coding’ kind of tinkering.”
As advanced as AI has become nowadays, there are still some flaws that can be found. AI-generated code can be messy and inconsistent. The code produced through vibe coding often lacks the structure and documentation of hand-written code. As projects grow, developers with limited technical knowledge will find it difficult to make updates or deploy system integrations.
Another key factor to consider is security. When it comes to projects in the crypto industry, security is critical, even minor bugs or vulnerabilities can be disastrous. Without a deep understanding of the underlying logic, flaws might go unnoticed until they are exploited.
For example, an Floridian entrepreneur used Cursor, an AI coding tool to develop a new enterprise-software app. He claimed that he built the app with “zero hand-written code” and that people were already paying for the app.
However, two days later he announced that his software was “under attack.” Because he did not understand the technicalities of the app, he had a harder time solving the issues that arose. In the end, he “killed the app” and was forced to rebuild it.
Overall, vibe coding does provides some advantages for the crypto industry, mainly in terms of lowering technical barriers and speeding up progress for building projects and tools. However, it also comes with drawbacks that emphasize how engineering capabilities and expert oversight are still key ingredients when it comes to building projects in the crypto industry.
