Traditional scientific institutions often face issues like restricted access to research, reliance on centralized funding bodies, and long publication timelines. DeSci seeks to address these challenges by leveraging decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), tokenized incentives, and open-access publishing to create a more efficient and equitable scientific ecosystem.
This article highlights notable DeSci projects and the innovation they can bring to the crypto scene.
What is DeSci?
Decentralized Science (DeSci) is an emerging movement that applies blockchain principles to scientific research. It aims to make funding, collaboration, and data sharing more open and transparent.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has shown how new technology can change finance by removing intermediaries, allowing direct transactions, and creating clear and accessible financial products.
Similarly, Decentralized Science (DeSci) can change research funding. It can do this by using cryptocurrency crowdfunding, offering token rewards for peer reviews, and ensuring data integrity with blockchain technology. Just as DeFi transformed banking, DeSci can make research more open and collaborative across different countries.
DeSci is still developing, but interest is growing. Some projects are looking into decentralized funding, NFT-based intellectual property rights, and open-access scientific data. As researchers and institutions see the benefits of blockchain—like better reproducibility, easier access to funding, and improved knowledge sharing—adoption will likely speed up. If DeSci follows the path of DeFi, it could change how science is done and funded, making it more inclusive and efficient.
The issue with traditional research funding
To turn brilliant ideas into reality, scientists need funding for research, data collection, and publication of results. However, the traditional route can be full of challenges. Getting funding can be tough. Scientists often depend on grants from government agencies or private organizations. These grants usually have strict application processes and favor established researchers or popular research areas. This creates a bottleneck, making it hard for less-known researchers to get support for their innovative ideas.
Many scientific breakthroughs also depend on repeating previous research. However, details about data and methods are often kept secret. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to reproduce results, raising questions about their validity. Resources can be wasted when researchers try to repeat findings that should be clear.
Scientific research can also be isolated. Independent researchers often have limited access to data and resources. While collaborating across borders can help share findings, it can also be complicated and time-consuming. These issues can slow scientific progress, hinder innovation, and affect everyone.
How DeSci plans to change funding for scientific research
DeSci aims to change the research landscape by using blockchain technology, which is similar to what underpins cryptocurrencies. This technology can help scientists tackle these challenges and build a more efficient, clear, and inclusive scientific community. Here's how DeSci plans to address these key issues.
Decentralized funding and incentive structures
Decentralized Science (DeSci) changes how research gets funded, moving away from traditional gatekeepers. One way to do this is through Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and tokenization.
DAOs are online communities that make decisions together. In DeSci, DAOs can gather funds from interested people using cryptocurrency tokens. These tokens give holders voting rights and a potential share in future research successes. This allows anyone with internet access to support exciting research projects by voting on proposals they find valuable.
Besides DAOs, DeSci platforms can also create crowdfunding campaigns for specific research projects. This enables the public to directly support research they care about, helping to overcome the challenges of traditional funding models that often hold back vital research.
Open Access and Transparent Data Sharing
DeSci uses blockchain technology for secure and unchangeable data storage. This encourages researchers to share their data openly, promoting collaboration and independent checks of findings, regardless of where researchers are located. An open approach makes sure that contributions to scientific discoveries are recognized.
With the secure, tamper-proof storage of research data on the blockchain, concerns about data manipulation are reduced, and the integrity of research results is upheld. Shared data platforms in DeSci encourage global collaboration among researchers. They can easily access and analyze data, replicate experiments, and verify findings, building on existing knowledge.
The Benefits of DeSci
By making funding more accessible and promoting collaboration, DeSci could speed up scientific discovery. In an ideal scenario, brilliant ideas from anywhere in the world would receive the support needed to succeed, leading to breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and many other areas.
Greater interest in science
DeSci allows people to participate in the scientific process instead of just consuming research findings. Anyone with internet access can contribute funding, data, or expertise to research projects that interest them, creating a more inclusive and cooperative scientific atmosphere.
More trust and transparency in research
DeSci encourages transparency in how research is funded, and data is shared, building public trust in scientific institutions and the research process. By making scientific data openly available, DeSci allows anyone to examine and verify findings, helping to create a stronger and more dependable scientific community.
The risks of DeSci
We explore some of the key risks associated with DeSci that researchers, institutions, and stakeholders should be aware of as this movement continues to evolve.
Fraudulent projects
DeSci projects are often new and still looking for funding. At this stage, the technology is usually not fully developed, which increases the risk of encountering fraudulent or low-quality projects compared to more established markets. These scientific projects may fail to meet their promises. Projects that seem like legitimate scientific breakthroughs could be scams, similar to the Theranos scandal.
Regulation and legal uncertainty
The rules around DeSci are still developing. This lack of clear regulations creates uncertainty for both researchers and investors. Unplanned regulations disrupt DeSci projects or create legal problems for participants. DeSci platforms need strong methods to protect sensitive data while allowing for helpful analysis. It’s crucial to balance data privacy with the need for transparency and progress in research, especially during uncertain times.
Technical challenges with blockchain technology
Blockchain provides a secure base for DeSci research. However, there are still technical challenges to overcome. DeSci platforms need to be user-friendly for researchers with different technical skills. They must also be able to handle more users and complex scientific data over time. Strong security measures are crucial to protect the DeSci infrastructure from hacks and data breaches, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive research data.
Ethical issues in DAO-based governance
DeSci changes how scientific funding and decision-making happen through DAOs. While this change can be empowering, it raises ethical concerns about governance and allocating research money. For example, wealthy individuals may have too much voting power, known as whale voting. This could influence voting and guide funding toward projects that benefit their interests, possibly ignoring valuable research in other areas.
Top DeSci projects by market cap in February 2025
Here are some examples of leading DeSci projects that address various challenges in today's scientific world. As the DeSci field develops, we can expect more innovative projects to arise in different scientific areas.
OriginTrail (TRAC)
OriginTrail may not be a direct part of the DeSci movement like Hippocrat or VitaDAO, but it helps DeSci by making supply chains for research materials explicit and trustworthy. It allows researchers to track where their data comes from, supporting the DeSci goals of open data and trust.
In addition to provenance tracking, OriginTrail’s technology promotes data reuse and reproducibility in clinical trials and encourages teamwork among researchers. Its open-source approach allows it to work well with other DeSci tools, helping to create a more connected system for scientific research. Notable backers include Outlier Ventures and Swisscom Blockchain.
As of February 23, 2025, TRAC is trading at $0.343799, with a slight increase of 0.02071% from the previous close.
Bio Protocol (BIO)
Bio Protocol is another innovative initiative focused on transforming how scientific research is funded and conducted. Decentralizing the process allows researchers to gain access to various resources without the traditional barriers often associated with securing funding and collaboration opportunities. The platform encourages open sharing of findings, which promotes transparency and accelerates the pace of scientific discovery.
Researchers can collaborate across disciplines and geographic boundaries, pooling their expertise and resources to enhance the quality of research. Additionally, Bio Protocol is designed to support a variety of funding mechanisms, enabling contributors, whether individuals or organizations, to support projects directly.
Currently, BIO is priced at $0.127904, experiencing a decrease of 4.872% from the previous close.
AxonDAO Governance Token (AXGT)
AxonDAO is designed to facilitate decentralized governance in neuroscience research. By utilizing the AXGT token, stakeholders in the neuroscience community can participate actively in decision-making processes related to funding and project selection.
The primary goal of AxonDAO is to ensure that research initiatives are supported based on community consensus rather than traditional hierarchical structures, promoting fairness and transparency.
The framework allows researchers, clinicians, and enthusiasts in neuroscience to propose projects and submit funding requests. The community can then vote on these proposals using their AXGT tokens, ensuring that the most promising and impactful projects receive support.
AXGT is trading at $0.202928, marking an increase of 3.810% from the previous close.
Hippocrat (HPO)
Hippocrat is a well-known DeSci project primarily due to its secure and transparent clinical trial data management. It acts as a decentralized patient network that gives people control over their health data, which improves personalized medical care.
Using blockchain technology, Hippocrat ensures that clinical trial data is secure and cannot be tampered with. This builds trust in the research and allows for independent verification of results. Hippocrates also provides secure data access and participant consent management, aligning with privacy laws. By offering a reliable platform for clinical trial data, Hippocrates is essential in creating a more transparent and trustworthy scientific environment.
HPO's current price is $0.051568, reflecting a slight decline of 1.439% from the previous close.
ResearchCoin (RSC)
ResearchHub has become a top DeSci project by addressing significant issues in scientific research. First, it encourages open access to scientific literature by offering researchers a platform to publish and share their findings without paywalls. Second, it supports collaboration by providing tools for researchers to connect, share data, and co-author papers.
This makes the research process smoother and promotes interdisciplinary work. Finally, ResearchHub uses a reputation-based token rewards system.
Researchers can earn Researchcoin tokens for beneficial actions like peer reviews and data sharing, which may lead to new funding or recognition in the scientific community. ResearchHub promotes open access, teamwork, and innovative rewards for valuable scientific contributions. RSC is valued at $0.404519, with a decrease of 8.590% from the previous close.
VitaDAO (VITA)
VitaDAO changes how scientific research gets funded. It allows a global community to vote on which projects focused on healthy aging and longevity receive money. People who hold VITA tokens can help decide how the DAO funds are used. By bringing together individuals interested in improving health spans, VitaDAO supports more diverse research than traditional funding, which often has specific agendas or red tape.
This community-driven method creates a sense of ownership and shared goals, leading to potentially more meaningful research in healthy aging. It is backed by organizations such as Pfizer Ventures and Balaji Srinivasan. VITA is currently priced at $1.77, showing an increase of 1.724% from the previous close.
HairDAO (HAIR)
HairDAO is dedicated to tackling the pressing issue of hair loss through collaborative research and development. In addition to funding research, HairDAO aims to raise awareness about hair loss and its impact on individuals' lives.
By engaging with the community, they provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and advancements in hair restoration technologies. The project's ultimate goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem that accelerates innovation in hair loss treatments, improving the quality of life for those affected. HAIR is trading at $44.03; intraday high and low data are not available.
yesnoerror (YNE)
yesnoerror is specifically focused on error reporting and validation. It aims to provide researchers with a transparent and tamper-proof system where they can report potential errors or inconsistencies in studies.
They address the pressing need for improved reliability and reproducibility in scientific research, which has faced scrutiny due to issues such as publication bias and the replication crisis. Ultimately, yesnoerror aspires to create a culture of accountability and trust within the scientific community, leading to more robust and dependable research outcomes.
YNE's current price is $0.02610496, with a decrease of 4.127% from the previous close.
Bluzelle (BLZ)
Bluzelle wants to change the way scientific data is stored and accessed through decentralized storage solutions. This project's approach mitigates the risks associated with centralized data storage, such as data loss and unauthorized access, and enhances data sharing across various disciplines.
Bluzelle is committed to supporting the scientific community and aims to foster innovation and discovery by providing reliable and accessible data storage options. It is supported by entities like NGC Ventures and Hashed. BLZ is priced at $0.03837022, reflecting an increase of 1.177% from the previous close.
Galeon (GALEON)
Galeon is leveraging blockchain technology to establish a decentralized hospital network. This platform wants to streamline data sharing among healthcare providers, ensuring that patient information is securely and transparently exchanged.
Galeon seeks to enhance patient care by improving accessibility to medical records and ultimately empowering patients with greater control over their health data. This initiative aims to increase efficiency, reduce costs within the healthcare system, and enhance trust and security. GALEON is trading at $0.01897291, experiencing a decrease of 5.038% from the previous close.
DeSci in the future
DeSci offers an exciting vision for the future of scientific research. Blockchain technology addresses long-standing problems in traditional science, such as limited funding, data separation, and a lack of transparency. With tools like DAOs, tokenization, and open data sharing, DeSci empowers researchers, promotes collaboration, and speeds scientific discovery.
Many promising DeSci projects are currently facing various challenges in different scientific fields. As DeSci develops, it is essential to tackle issues like regulatory uncertainty and the ethical aspects of DAO governance to ensure lasting success. Solving these challenges could help more people embrace this movement, which aims to enhance scientific breakthroughs and improve lives.
FAQ about DeSci
What is DeSci?
DeSci uses blockchain technology to create a more open and collaborative scientific community. It uses tokens, NFTs, and DAOs to make research more accessible, focusing on funding, data sharing, and publishing.
What is decentralization in science?
Decentralization in science involves distributing control and decision-making away from centralized authorities and utilizing technologies like blockchain to promote open access, transparency, and collaborative research efforts.
What is DeSci in Web3?
DeSci in Web3 refers to integrating decentralized technologies within the scientific community to create a more open, transparent, and community-driven ecosystem for conducting, funding, and sharing research.
Is DeSci the next big thing?
DeSci is gaining momentum as it offers innovative solutions to longstanding challenges in scientific research, such as funding inefficiencies and lack of transparency. This positioning positions it as a potential transformative force in the scientific community.
Where can I buy DeSci coins?
DeSci-related tokens can be purchased on various cryptocurrency exchanges and in Tangem Wallet; for example, SUI Desci Agents (DESCI) is available on platforms like Uniswap V2 (Ethereum).
What are the benefits of DeSci?
DeSci offers benefits, including democratized funding, enhanced transparency, increased collaboration, and open access to research, thereby addressing inefficiencies in traditional scientific systems.
What are DeSci tokens?
DeSci tokens are digital assets associated with decentralized science projects, often used to facilitate funding, governance, and incentivization within the DeSci ecosystem.
What are SUI DeSci agents?
SUI DeSci Agents are entities within the SUI blockchain ecosystem that promote decentralized science initiatives, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance scientific collaboration and innovation.
What is a research coin?
A research coin is a cryptocurrency designed to support scientific research by providing funding mechanisms, incentivizing collaboration, and facilitating the open sharing of knowledge within the scientific community.
How does DeSci work?
DeSci uses DAOs, online groups that collect money and vote on research projects. Tokens in these groups represent voting power for their owners. This approach makes research projects more open and accessible. Thanks to blockchain technology, researchers can safely access data. Additionally, researchers can create NFTs that represent unique datasets or findings, giving them ownership and control. This decentralized method helps overcome many challenges that research projects face today, especially those from smaller organizations with limited resources.
Is DeSci replacing traditional scientific institutions?
DeSci isn't a complete replacement but rather a complementary force. It aims to address limitations in traditional research by offering alternative funding models, fostering collaboration, and promoting open data. Traditional institutions can leverage DeSci tools to enhance their research efforts.
What are the ethical considerations of DeSci?
DeSci raises ethical questions surrounding DAO governance. A small number of wealthy token holders could "whale vote" to skew funding decisions. Additionally, protecting data privacy while maintaining transparency in research requires careful consideration.
