The Intersection of Web3 and Science: The Rise and Potential of the DeSci Track

As of November 24, the discussion heat and price performance of several major cryptocurrencies are as follows:

The discussion count for Bitcoin last week was 19.39K, a month-on-month increase of 10.69%; the price was $98,432, an increase of 7% month-on-month.

The number of discussions about Ethereum last week was 4.7K, a 13.89% increase compared to the previous period; the price was $3489, an 11.3% increase.

The number of discussions on TON last week was 782, a month-on-month increase of 3.44%; the price was $5.52, a month-on-month increase of 11.5%.

Recently, two well-known figures in the cryptocurrency industry expressed their support for DeSci at an event for a decentralized science project. One of them also expressed hope to see 1,000 DeSci projects next year, bridging the gap between Web3 and the scientific community. Meanwhile, DeSci-related tokens RIF and URO surged over 20 times in price within just two days, indicating that DeSci, as an emerging narrative, is attracting market and capital attention.

DeSci Concept Analysis

DeSci is an innovative research model based on blockchain and the Web3 ecosystem. Its core lies in utilizing distributed storage technology to achieve global open access to research data, reducing the monopoly of a single institution over the data. This open model breaks the closed nature of traditional research, allowing global researchers to share resources and data without barriers. Furthermore, DeSci also optimizes the research funding mechanism through smart contracts and DAOs, enhancing the transparency and efficiency of fund allocation, fundamentally changing the source structure and usage of research funding.

An industry expert pointed out that the DeSci field now feels like the DeFi era in early 2019. Although it is still in its infancy, its potential is enormous. This potential has already begun to emerge through some preliminary practical cases.

The Explosive Growth of DeSci Meme Tokens

The popularity of meme tokens in the market continues to rise, especially in the DeSci field. The two meme tokens, RIF and URO, originating from a certain research platform, have achieved remarkable growth in a very short time. They represent the compounds Rifampicin and Urolithin, respectively.

This platform allows users to purchase Meme tokens representing different drugs and participate in drug effect predictions and experimental data trading. When RIF and URO were first launched, their market capitalization stabilized around $150,000, but recently their market cap surged to nearly $3 million, increasing by almost 20 times.

The enthusiasm in the DeSci field has been reignited, closely related to the active promotion by some industry leaders. In addition, changes in the political environment in the United States may also lead to a relaxation of technology research and development policies, which is one of the reasons why the DeSci concept is becoming popular again at this time.

Potential Projects in the DeSci Field

1. Molecule: Established in 2021, it is a research funding platform based on Ethereum, providing financial support for cutting-edge research through the trading of intellectual property NFTs. The platform is known for supporting molecular aging research at Newcastle University and longevity projects at the University of Copenhagen.

2. VITA: Established in 2021, it is one of the most legitimate DeSci projects. It focuses on funding early longevity research and has attracted widespread attention, including from major pharmaceutical companies, through community fundraising, raising over $5 million. The VITA token has shown strong performance recently, with a daily peak increase of 82.4%, the latest price being $3.12, and a market capitalization of over $80 million.

3. BIO Protocol: Since the first round of token sales began on August 9, the price of BIO has continued to rise. In the recent public auction, the price of BIO reached $0.066, an increase of 264% compared to the first round. The project also received strategic investment from a well-known trading platform, allowing its community fundraising efforts to quickly reach the $33 million cap.

4. Data Lake: This is a blockchain-based medical data sharing platform that allows patients to anonymously donate data for scientific research and share research benefits with patients through a token incentive mechanism.

5. Research Hub: Founded by the creator of a well-known cryptocurrency exchange platform, it has a partnership with BIO Protocol. Its native token RSC is used to reward high-quality content creators on the platform, representing users' reputation and authority on the platform. RSC has performed remarkably recently, with an increase of nearly 200% within a week, bringing its market cap back to the level of 60 million dollars.

Conclusion

The potential of DeSci is not limited to optimizing the research process; it may also lead to comprehensive changes in scientific governance, intellectual property management, and research ethics. Through decentralized decision-making and community-driven models, DeSci is expected to achieve democratization of research, allowing more people to participate in scientific development. The application of blockchain technology will significantly enhance the authenticity and transparency of research data and results, effectively combating academic fraud and increasing public trust in science.

DeSci is becoming a new paradigm for scientific research, not only complementing traditional research models but also representing a profound cultural change in science. Supported by Web3 technology, DeSci is expected to break down barriers in the research field and promote global scientific development. With more practical cases emerging and continuous technological improvements, DeSci will lead the scientific community into a new era that is more open, efficient, and democratic.