Startups resell unused AI inference credits at steep discounts via brokers and marketplaces

A new report documents the rise of “token brokers” who buy unused AI inference credits from startups and resell them at steep discounts, commercializing a previously informal practice. The brokers operate alongside online marketplaces such as AI Credits and AICreditMart, which list credits from major cloud and inference providers. These platforms allow sellers to list credits and buyers to select delivery methods, with discounts advertised between 30% and 80% off list prices.

Direct outreach to brokers revealed one operator offering $100,000 per day in spend capacity. The broker did not provide provider keys directly; instead, they acted as a proxy, likely routing requests through a pool of keys. This model mirrors the token relay market described in a previous report by the same author, which focused on the infrastructure enabling such resale.

Additional marketplaces positioning themselves as bulk-discount routers include CheapCredits, Tokvana, and Neokens. CheapCredits advertises a flat 40% discount on all models, a rate the author calls unlikely unless the operator has top-tier customer status with providers. The site also provides a Data Processing Agreement for GDPR compliance, indicating efforts to appear legitimate.

The practice is not confined to dedicated platforms. Founders report frequent inbound emails offering to buy or sell off-market inference, and the activity is visible on public forums such as Reddit and Telegram. Examples include a Y Combinator Startup School credits listing and a $10,000 API credits offer on r/indiehackers. The author estimates that tens of millions of credits are being offered across these sites, forums, and resellers.

The report suggests that as companies become more cost-conscious, providers may crack down on unauthorized resale. The liquidity and pseudo-currency nature of these credits create conditions ripe for abuse, according to the author.