DeSci’s the Limit: Crypto Pioneer Foresees Bright Horizon for Science Startups

By José Oramas November 26, 2024 In Blockchain, DeFi, Stock Market
  • Andrew Kang likens the potential of decentralised science (DeSci) to the early days of DeFi in 2019, emphasising its experimental nature and transformative possibilities for scientific research.
  • The DeSci market, valued at US$1.17B, includes notable projects reshaping how research and studies are conducted.
  • With increasing investments and interest, DeSci aims to revolutionise science and healthcare through blockchain technology.

Decentralised science (DeSci) is drawing parallels to the early days of decentralised finance (DeFi) in 2019 —an experimental space with significant untapped potential, at least according to Andrew Kang, founder and partner at Mechanism Capital.

Kang argues that DeSci is still in its infancy but holds promise for transforming the scientific landscape.

The DeSci space right now feels like the early 2019 DeFi days. Everything is still raw, experimental, but there’s an underlying understanding from this involved that there is massive potential.

Andrew Kang, Mechanism Capital

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Decentralised Science Explained

Decentralised Science is a blockchain-based approach to scientific research that aims to address inefficiencies in traditional systems by emphasising transparency, decentralisation, incentives, and global collaboration to make science more accessible and trustworthy.

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DeSci ensures secure, transparent, and incentivised research by storing data on blockchains, using Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) for funding and decision-making, and leveraging tokenisation. These practices benefit researchers by providing open access to data, improving funding mechanisms, enhancing global collaboration, and increasing trust in research findings.

So, to wrap up, DeSci reimagines scientific practices for the digital era, promoting a more open, efficient, and collaborative approach to knowledge creation. 

I swear it’s not another crypto fad —or at least I hope so. This ecosystem actually has a lot of money flowing in, as data from CoinGecko shows the DeSci market is currently valued at US$1.17B (AU$1.83B).

Leading DesCi Projects

Some DeSci leading projects are:

  1. OriginTrail (TRAC) at US$376.9M (AU582.59M)
  2. VitaDAO at US$121M (AU$187M)
  3. Rifampicin (RIF) at US$133M (AU$205M)
  4. VitaDAO (VITA) at US$124.7M (AU$192M)
  5. HairDAO (HAIR) at US$89M (AU$137M)

Ok… so what do any of these projects do? Well, OriginTrail, as the name suggests, focuses on solving data fragmentation and interoperability challenges in supply chain management. It basically creates a decentralised knowledge graph dashboard for secure and transparent data sharing among supply chain partners. 

Rifampicin, for example, represents a unique intersection of gamification and science. The RIF token is tied to Pump Science, a platform exploring the anti-aging effects of the antibiotic Rifampicin. This token allows holders to access data and findings from experiments, such as lifespan studies in flies.

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While still emerging, this sector is gaining traction in the market with growing interest and investment, hinting at its transformative potential for science and healthcare. As DeSci matures, it could redefine how scientific discoveries are funded, conducted, and shared, marking a significant shift toward decentralised collaboration and innovation.

José Oramas
Author

José Oramas

José is a journalist and translator with a keen interest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

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