Scientific research has been the foundation of innovation for centuries, but the systems that support it could be better. Traditional funding, publishing, and collaboration methods often favour well-established players, leaving smaller or unconventional voices unheard.
A movement called Decentralised Science, or DeSci, is emerging to address these challenges. By using blockchain technology and decentralised tools, DeSci is creating a more accessible, transparent, and fair ecosystem for researchers and their work.
This isn’t just about introducing new technology, it’s about rethinking how science operates. DeSci aims to make funding easier to access, data more open, and collaboration less restricted by institutional gatekeeping. It’s a step toward a future where scientific progress benefits everyone, not just a privileged few.
What is Decentralised Science?
Decentralised Science (DeSci) is a movement that leverages blockchain and Web3 technologies to transform how research is conducted, funded, and shared. At its core, DeSci decentralises key elements of the scientific process, making them more democratic, efficient, and transparent.
Using tools like decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), blockchain-based funding, and tokenisation, DeSci enables researchers to bypass traditional barriers.
Instead of relying on centralised institutions, they can collaborate, secure funding, and publish their work directly through decentralised platforms.
The concept began gaining traction in 2023, with projects like VitaDAO, ResearchHub, and GenomesDAO leading the way. These platforms offered innovative solutions to long-standing problems, from limited funding to restrictive intellectual property laws.
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has described DeSci as a way to use open decentralised technologies to “make science better.”
Notable figures in the crypto space have also expressed their support for the movement. In late 2022, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, highlighted the potential of decentralised science to reshape research funding and collaboration.
This sentiment was reinforced by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), then CEO of Binance, who publicly supported DeSci in 2023, boosting its visibility in the blockchain community.
The movement experienced a significant resurgence in 2024, particularly during the ETHGlobal Hackathon in Bangkok this November.
DeSci took centre stage in several seminars, with many of the winning projects falling into this category. This renewed attention demonstrates how DeSci is increasingly recognised as a vital part of the Web3 ecosystem, driving innovation and collaboration in science.
The Problem with Traditional Science
While traditional science has delivered incredible breakthroughs, its underlying systems often create significant roadblocks for researchers.
These challenges aren’t new, but they’ve become harder to ignore as the pace of innovation accelerates.
One of the biggest issues is biased funding. Much of the money for research comes from private institutions or corporations, which can create conflicts of interest. Projects that align with funders’ goals are prioritised, leaving high-risk, innovative ideas struggling to secure support.
Access to data and published research is another problem. Many academic journals charge high fees to access papers, making critical knowledge available only to those who can afford it.
Even researchers face barriers, as the peer review process can be slow and sometimes biased, delaying the publication of groundbreaking work.
The funding process itself is far from efficient. Securing grants often involves lengthy applications that favour established researchers or institutions. This not only discourages new voices but also takes valuable time away from actual research.
Collaboration in traditional science is also limited. The system tends to reward individual achievements over teamwork, offering little incentive to share data or replicate studies. This lack of collaboration can slow progress and reduce the reproducibility of findings.
Finally, intellectual property is tightly controlled by universities and corporations, limiting researchers’ ability to share or commercialise their work freely. This further stifles innovation and prevents discoveries from reaching their full potential.
These systemic issues highlight the need for a new approach, one that removes barriers and prioritises openness, collaboration, and fairness.
How Decentralised Technology Solves These Problems
DeSci tackles these challenges head-on by using blockchain and Web3 technologies to create a more equitable and efficient scientific ecosystem.
One of its most significant innovations is democratised funding. Platforms like VitaDAO and Molecule Protocol allow researchers to raise funds directly from communities and organisations through DAOs.
Tokenisation adds another layer of flexibility, enabling scientists to sell intellectual property as IP-NFTs. This not only simplifies fundraising but also allows backers to support projects they believe in.
Decentralised platforms like ResearchHub are transforming publishing by removing the high costs associated with traditional journals.
Researchers can share their findings openly and receive incentives, such as ResearchCoin (RSC), for their contributions. This ensures that knowledge is accessible to everyone while rewarding those who advance science.
Collaboration is another area where DeSci shines. By leveraging DAOs, researchers from across the globe can work together without the need for centralised oversight. Blockchain’s transparency ensures that data is credible and peer reviews are verifiable, fostering trust and reproducibility.
Intellectual property management is also evolving. With IP-NFTs, researchers can maintain control over their work, licensing or trading their intellectual property directly. This removes intermediaries and creates new opportunities for monetisation and collaboration.
These decentralised tools and systems address the inefficiencies of traditional science, creating an environment where innovation can thrive and barriers to progress are significantly reduced.
While traditional science relies on centralised structures that often exclude underrepresented voices, DeSci empowers researchers and communities.
By making funding, publishing, and collaboration more accessible, it enables breakthroughs that would have been impossible in traditional systems.
Decentralised Science Projects
A growing number of projects are driving the DeSci movement, each addressing unique challenges in the research ecosystem.
DeSci Projects / Source: Coingecko
ResearchHub is one of the most versatile platforms, providing a decentralised space where researchers can share findings, discuss ideas, and collaborate.
Backed by Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong, it uses ResearchCoin (RSC) to reward contributions, creating a dynamic and inclusive scientific community.
VitaDAO focuses on funding early-stage longevity research. By pooling resources through a DAO, it supports projects aimed at extending healthy human lifespans while decentralising access to biopharma intellectual property.
GenomesDAO empowers individuals to own and control their genetic data, offering a secure way to store and share DNA information. This ensures privacy and sovereignty while accelerating genomics research.
Molecule Protocol bridges researchers and funders using IP-NFTs, enabling innovative projects to overcome early funding challenges.
AthenaDAO, meanwhile, is addressing the critical underfunding of women’s health research by creating a decentralised community focused on improving treatments and understanding unique health conditions.
These projects show how DeSci is transforming not just how science is conducted, but also who can participate and benefit. Some initiatives even integrate technologies like AI and supply chain management, expanding their impact beyond traditional research domains.
Outlook on Decentralised Science
The potential of DeSci is immense. By addressing systemic inefficiencies in traditional science, it creates opportunities for researchers, funders, and communities to collaborate in new and meaningful ways.
However, the road ahead isn’t without challenges. Regulatory uncertainty, resistance from established institutions, and the technical complexity of blockchain systems could slow adoption. Despite this, the momentum behind DeSci is growing as its benefits become clearer.
In the long term, DeSci has the power to redefine scientific research. By making it more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative, it paves the way for breakthroughs that benefit everyone, not just a select few.
Conclusion
Decentralised Science is more than a technological innovation, it’s a movement toward a fairer, more open research ecosystem.
By using blockchain and Web3 tools, DeSci addresses the flaws of traditional science while creating new opportunities for collaboration and discovery.
As more researchers and communities embrace this approach, it could mark the beginning of a new era, where scientific progress knows no boundaries and benefits all of humanity.
