Private compute & AI
Lit Protocol vs Tinfoil
Connect private computation to authorized actions.
Compare attested AI and containers with an execution model that integrates programmable keys and on-chain permissions.
Scope: Tinfoil private AI and containers; Lit Protocol using the ChainSecured method.
Lit assessment
Why choose Lit
Choose Lit when a private-compute application also needs to use credentials, sign transactions, or operate wallets under on-chain permissions. Lit Actions combine external data access, secret handling, and signing in the confidential runtime. That makes programmable authority part of the application’s design. Training and inference deployments are scoped with our team.[1][2]
Tradeoffs to weigh
Tinfoil offers automatic SDK verification, model-identity protections, and custom attested containers. A Lit deployment should specify which code, configuration, model assets, and output paths its verification covers. Attestation alone establishes neither model quality nor freedom from data leakage through permitted outputs.
Architecture, side by side
| Dimension | Tinfoil | Lit (ChainSecured mode) |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | SDKs check hardware attestation against build measurements linked to source through transparency logs. A mismatch stops the connection.[3] | Attestation identifies the environment; a verifier can inspect its approved software measurements and the governing contract state.[4][5] |
| Release authority | Published configuration and build measurements link source releases to enclave identities. Model commitments can also be checked at runtime.[6] | Runtime key release is conditioned on contract-approved measurements. Hosted approvals use a documented Lit-controlled 2-of-4 Safe without a timelock.[5][7] |
| Workload scope | Tinfoil offers private AI and attested custom containers, with automatic verification through its SDKs.[8] | Lit Actions execute custom JavaScript and WebAssembly in confidential hardware. For AI training and inference, our team scopes the deployment requirements with you.[1][9] |
Verification
- Tinfoil
- SDKs check hardware attestation against build measurements linked to source through transparency logs. A mismatch stops the connection.[3]
- Lit (ChainSecured mode)
- Attestation identifies the environment; a verifier can inspect its approved software measurements and the governing contract state.[4][5]
Release authority
- Tinfoil
- Published configuration and build measurements link source releases to enclave identities. Model commitments can also be checked at runtime.[6]
- Lit (ChainSecured mode)
- Runtime key release is conditioned on contract-approved measurements. Hosted approvals use a documented Lit-controlled 2-of-4 Safe without a timelock.[5][7]
Workload scope
- Tinfoil
- Tinfoil offers private AI and attested custom containers, with automatic verification through its SDKs.[8]
- Lit (ChainSecured mode)
- Lit Actions execute custom JavaScript and WebAssembly in confidential hardware. For AI training and inference, our team scopes the deployment requirements with you.[1][9]