The world of scientific research is undergoing a transformative change, with DeSci (Decentralized Science) leading the charge. By leveraging blockchain technology, DeSci is reshaping how scientific data is funded, shared, and validated. This new model promises to make research more open, transparent, and accessible, while empowering researchers and communities to collaborate in novel ways. In this blog, we explore what DeSci is, why it’s gaining momentum, and how it can address the longstanding challenges in traditional scientific research.

1. What is Desci?

DeSci, short for Decentralized Science, refers to the application of blockchain technology to the scientific research sector. The primary aim is to remove the barriers imposed by traditional funding models, gatekeepers like academic journals, and institutional bottlenecks. Using decentralized platforms, researchers can raise funds through tokenized incentives, collaborate globally without institutional restrictions, and share their findings transparently on open platforms

Currently, the key areas of focus in decentralized science are:

Data Sharing: Overcoming outdated systems of data sharing, data provenance, ownership, and sovereignty.

Research and Publishing: A revolution in the research and publishing process, which has long been criticized within the scientific community.

Funding: With the rise of borderless and immutable funding through cryptocurrency, a new form of crowdfunding has emerged for scientific research.

2. Why Has DeSci Become a Trend?

On November 13th, CZ hosted Labs, bringing together DeSci entrepreneurs and founders, making the term "DeSci" more popular than ever. The DeSci wave is exploding, with a special appearance by Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, along with other prominent figures. The industry is currently gaining massive attention, and many people are going crazy over its potential.

The crypto market has surpassed 1 billion dollars, and many DeSci projects have seen impressive growth, with some increasing over 100% compared to last week. This boom is clearly opening up new investment and development opportunities.

The rise of DeSci is driven by key factors: increased access and transparency, as traditional scientific publishing often hides research behind paywalls, while DeSci platforms make it open to all; funding challenges, with DeSci offering decentralized funding through tokenized incentives and DAOs, empowering researchers with community-driven support; and peer-to-peer collaboration, where blockchain removes barriers, enabling global cooperation and accelerating scientific discovery.

3. The Problems of Traditional Science and the Solutions: DeSci

Traditional scientific research encounters significant challenges, including slow and biased funding systems that prioritize established institutions, limited access to knowledge locked behind costly subscriptions, and inefficiencies where researchers spend excessive time on grant applications instead of conducting research. Decentralized Science (DeSci) offers innovative solutions to these issues. Through decentralized funding models, researchers can raise capital directly from communities via blockchain, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. Open access platforms ensure that knowledge is freely available, promoting equitable information sharing. Additionally, tokenized rewards and decentralized governance streamline processes, reducing administrative burdens and empowering researchers to focus on innovation.

Data on U.S. R&D investments highlight significant funding in both private and government sectors, which is relevant to DeSci (Decentralized Science). DeSci addresses challenges in the traditional R&D system, such as inconsistent priorities, funding shortages, and limited access to data.

The traditional R&D system relies heavily on centralized organizations, leading to resource gaps in some research areas. DeSci introduces decentralized funding models through DAOs and blockchain, enabling broader participation and filling these gaps.

DeSci also creates open-access frameworks, making research and data more accessible and collaborative, accelerating scientific breakthroughs. Additionally, DeSci promotes a shift in R&D focus, encouraging fundamental research and long-term innovation through decentralized governance and community-led decision-making.

4. Real Use Cases of DeSci

Several platforms and projects are already bringing DeSci to life, particularly in fields like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. For example, ResearchHub is a platform that integrates blockchain and decentralized science (DeSci) principles to improve scientific research. It incentivizes contributions using ResearchCoin (RSC) tokens, rewards researchers for uploading content, reviewing work, and engaging in discussions. This fosters a collaborative, open-access environment where knowledge is freely shared, and researchers can crowdfund projects directly. ResearchHub decentralizes the peer review process and enables broader participation, making science more transparent and accessible.

ResearchHub specifically increased by more than 100% in the past 7 days (as of November 20, 2024)

Another real-world application is the use of IP-NFTs (Intellectual Property Non-Fungible Tokens). These tokens represent ownership of scientific data or patents and provide a new way for researchers to raise funds, sell data, or license patents directly to interested parties. This model has already found success in biotech, where research data is monetized through decentralized marketplaces

5. Conclusion

DeSci is revolutionizing how scientific research is funded, conducted, and shared. By removing traditional barriers and leveraging the transparency and security of blockchain technology, DeSci not only opens up new opportunities for researchers but also fosters a more inclusive, collaborative, and innovative scientific ecosystem. While still in its early stages, the DeSci movement has immense potential to complement and reshape the scientific landscape for the better. With decentralized funding, open access, and a focus on global collaboration, DeSci is paving the way for a future where research is more accessible, equitable, and impactful.

Together with BigWord, we can explore and seize new opportunities to step into this digital world, connecting decentralized research with broader audiences and contributing to the growth of this transformative space.

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