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+# LLM context — `luxfi/chains`
+
+Independent VM plugin binaries for the Lux Network. Each top-level
+subdirectory builds a standalone binary that `luxd` loads at runtime via
+`--plugin-dir`, with the actual VM implementation either inlined or
+re-exported from a canonical sibling repo.
+
+## What lives here
+
+- A flat set of VM packages (one per chain), each producing its own plugin
+  binary. There is no umbrella `vms/` directory — VMs are top-level.
+- A uniform shim pattern: many subdirectories are thin re-exports of a
+  canonical `luxfi/<repo>/vm` package so external imports of
+  `github.com/luxfi/chains/<name>vm` stay stable even when the impl moves.
+- A single `Makefile` that discovers VMs by listing top-level dirs and
+  builds each via `./<vm>` (when `main.go` is at the root, as in `evm/`) or
+  `./<vm>/cmd/plugin` (the default for every other VM).
+- A scratch-based `Dockerfile.plugin` that packages a pre-built plugin
+  binary as a stateless container; the build happens on a native-arch
+  runner and the artifact is copied into `/plugin`.
+
+## Key directories
+
+- `evm/` — C-Chain EVM plugin. Build-tag dispatch between a CGO backend
+  (`backend_cgo.go`, links luxcpp shared libs through `evm/cevm/`) and a
+  pure-Go fallback (`backend_nocgo.go`). See `evm/LLM.md` for the
+  backend-selection flow and the GPU ecrecover bridge.
+- `evm/cevm/` — FFI shim around the C++/GPU EVM in `luxcpp`. Not a
+  separate VM; lives inside the EVM plugin and is gated by `//go:build cgo`
+  / `//go:build !cgo` pairs (e.g. `cevm_cgo.go` vs `cevm_nocgo.go`).
+- `thresholdvm/` — substrate that powers both M-Chain (MPC) and F-Chain
+  (FHE) modes. See `thresholdvm/LLM.md` and `thresholdvm/DESIGN.md`.
+- `aivm/`, `bridgevm/`, `dexvm/`, `graphvm/`, `identityvm/`, `keyvm/`,
+  `oraclevm/`, `quantumvm/`, `relayvm/`, `zkvm/` — one VM per directory;
+  each ships `factory.go`, `vm.go`, and `cmd/plugin/main.go`.
+- `oraclevm/` and `relayvm/` are shim re-exports of `luxfi/oracle/vm` and
+  `luxfi/relay/vm` respectively; the standalone operator daemons
+  (`oracled`, `relayd`) live in those canonical repos.
+
+## VM-to-chain mapping
+
+The canonical table is in `README.md`. Highlights:
+
+| VM directory | Chain | Notes |
+|---|---|---|
+| `evm/` | C-Chain | EVM; CGO vs pure-Go via build tags |
+| `thresholdvm/` (MPC mode) | M-Chain | CGGMP21 / FROST / Ringtail-general — bridge custody |
+| `thresholdvm/` (FHE mode) | F-Chain | TFHE bootstrap + encrypted EVM compute |
+| `quantumvm/` | Q-Chain | Post-quantum consensus signing (Pulsar) |
+| `zkvm/` | Z-Chain | Groth16 over BLS12-381 — rolls ML-DSA-65 sigs into one proof |
+| `bridgevm/` | B-Chain | Cross-chain bridge |
+| `dexvm/` | D-Chain | DEX |
+| `aivm/`, `graphvm/`, `identityvm/`, `keyvm/`, `oraclevm/`, `relayvm/` | A/G/I/K/O/R | one-line purpose each in README |
+
+## Build tags in evm/cevm
+
+Two implementations behind Go's standard CGO toggle (no custom tag names):
+
+| Tag | File | Implementation |
+|---|---|---|
+| `cgo` (default with cgo enabled) | `evm/cevm/cevm_cgo.go`, `evm/backend_cgo.go` | C++ / GPU EVM via luxcpp FFI |
+| `!cgo` (`CGO_ENABLED=0`) | `evm/cevm/cevm_nocgo.go`, `evm/backend_nocgo.go` | Pure-Go fallback (luxfi/geth) |
+
+Operators select at build time:
+
+```sh
+go build -o luxd ./cmd/luxd                  # CGO path (production validators)
+CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o luxd ./cmd/luxd    # Pure-Go path (small footprint)
+```
+
+The plugin contract (`chain.ChainVM` from `luxfi/vm/chain`) is shared, so
+any EVM kernel can drop in behind the same import as long as state roots
+match the EVM spec. See `PLUGGABLE.md` for the cross-kernel design.
+
+## How to extend — adding a new pluggable chain VM
+
+1. Create the canonical repo `luxfi/<name>` with a `vm/` package and a
+   `cmd/<name>d` operator daemon (if the chain needs an off-chain courier).
+2. Add `chains/<name>vm/<name>vm.go` that re-exports
+   `github.com/luxfi/<name>/vm` types via type aliases (Factory, VM,
+   block / state types).
+3. Update `chains/<name>vm/go.mod` to require the canonical repo.
+4. Add `chains/<name>vm/cmd/plugin/main.go` following the existing pattern
+   (rpcchainvm server over the re-exported Factory).
+5. The root `Makefile` auto-discovers the directory; no Makefile edit is
+   needed unless the VM has a non-standard layout.
+
+## thresholdvm — design context
+
+`thresholdvm/` is a **substrate**, not a chain. It hosts the ceremony state
+machine, share envelope, QuasarCertLane registration, and
+certificate-subject binding logic that **both** M-Chain (MPC custody for
+external wallets) and F-Chain (FHE compute + TFHE bootstrap-key generation)
+import. The legacy T-Chain shim (LP-5013) is deprecated by LP-134 — see
+`thresholdvm/LLM.md` for the do-not-touch list and lane enum invariants.
+
+The dependency graph is one-way: `mchain → thresholdvm` and
+`fchain → thresholdvm`. Reverse edges are forbidden.
+
+## Cross-refs
+
+- `README.md` — canonical VM-to-chain table, build/install quickstart.
+- `PLUGGABLE.md` — shim pattern, kernel-portability rationale, `relayd` /
+  `oracled` operator-daemon shape.
+- `evm/LLM.md` — backend selection, GPU ecrecover bridge, Block STM
+  wire-up status.
+- `thresholdvm/LLM.md` — substrate constraints, lane enums, what NOT to
+  add back to T-Chain.
+- `thresholdvm/DESIGN.md`, `thresholdvm/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` — deep dive
+  on the ceremony substrate.