The year 2024 marked a crucial turning point for large Web3 bakers who came on board and funded DeSci.
Decentralized Science (DeSci), a movement that aims to use blockchain and Web3 technologies to transform scientific research and funding, has significant potential to gain momentum in 2025. DeSci aims to address challenges in traditional science, such as lack of funding, data sharing, and publication. DeSci is still a relatively new industry in the crypto space. This is evidenced by the combined market cap of just over $750 million and the fact that only 25 projects are listed in the “Decentralized Science” category on CoinGecko. Still, 2024 marked a crucial turning point for major Web3 bakers to come in and fund DeSci.
Last quarter, Vitalik Buterin and CZ attended a small meeting that Binance Labs hosted specifically for DeSci founders in the Web3 industry. According to CZ, “Crypto has finally been validated enough to enter academia” (99Bitcoins). VITADAO, a DeSci-focused decentralized autonomous organization, is currently the second largest DeSci project by market cap, according to CoinGecko data, and is also backed by Vitalik Buterin.
Other prominent backers like Lacey-Ann Wisdom, general partner at Protocol VC, used Medium to explain the importance of their fund’s DeSci thesis and introduce their DeSci investment portfolio. Andrei Grachev, co-founder of DWF Labs, has shared his outlook for the cryptocurrency industry in 2025, identifying decentralized science (DeSci), quantum resistance technologies, yield-generating assets and memes as the key narratives for the coming year. Companies like ResearchHub, backed by Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, serve as an open-source scientific collaboration platform where contributors can already earn tokens for peer reviews and research curation already has a head start in the race for DeSci 2025.
Main driver for DeSci in 2025
- Public demand for scientific transparency: In the wake of the global pandemic, public interest in understanding and accessing scientific advances has increased.
- Pharma and Biotech Integration: Partnerships between DeSci initiatives and biotech companies can accelerate innovation in drug discovery and healthcare solutions.
- Government and Institutional Commitment: If governments recognize the efficiency and integrity of DeSci, regulatory clarity and funding support could drive adoption.
Challenges that need to be overcome
- Regulatory uncertainty: The lack of clear guidelines for tokenized IP and crypto assets could hinder widespread adoption.
- Cultural resistance: Traditional academic institutions can resist the shift towards decentralized systems.
- Scalability and ease of use: DeSci platforms must consider scalability and user experience to attract researchers and funders.
Outlook for 2025
Although challenges remain, DeSci’s potential to revolutionize science is significant. The convergence of Web3 adoption, the need for more transparent research practices, and the push to democratize access to knowledge suggest that DeSci could see significant growth and mainstream recognition by 2025. However, its success will depend on overcoming technical, cultural and regulatory obstacles.
