DeSci: The Next $1B Sector?

Sector Analysis + Key Projects

The author(s) owns BTC and options positions in ETH (disclaimer).

1. Introduction:

Decentralized Science (DeSci) is flipping the script on research, tearing down legacy barriers with the power of blockchain.

It focuses on high-stakes fields like longevity and drug discovery, where the opportunities are massive.

By 2030, genome editing could reach a $10.4B market, longevity therapy $44.2B, and drug discovery $58.04B.

Still in its infancy at $860M, DeSci features bold players like VITA and TRAC, pushing decentralized longevity research.

Key Report Insights:

1. DeSci’s Promise: Decentralized funding drives fast and transparent research in high-risk fields like drug discovery.

2. Market Snapshot: Valued at $860M, DeSci is speculative, with tokens like VITA showing promise but high risk.

3. Drug Discovery Challenges: Addresses funding bottlenecks in a costly, uncertain field but faces early-stage risks.

4. Beyond Biotech: DeSci principles hold untapped potential in fields like AI, offering broader innovation.

5. Notable Progress: Platforms like Pump.science and VITA drive longevity research, but success hinges on governance.

Source: Jocelynn Pearl’s DeSci Wiki

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2. Decentralized Science: What Is It?

A. The Science Revolution: Cutting Out The Middleman

Decentralized Science (DeSci) is reshaping research by using blockchain to connect scientists directly with investors.

This bypasses traditional funding barriers, speeding up and democratizing funding processes while reducing reliance on centralized institutions.

DeSci also challenges the value distribution dominated by large entities, like pharmaceutical giants.

By decentralizing control, it aims to lower costs in markets prone to excessive pricing—think insulin in the U.S.

Source: RAND

B. State Of The DeSci Market:

With a MC of $860M (excluding tokens like URO, RIF, and VITA-FAST), DeSci is still in its early stages.

For instance, RSC, the sector's 3rd-largest token, has a $1B TVL but a mere $95M MC—less than 10% of its float is available.

Most DeSci projects target the high-stakes biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, especially drug discovery, a field marked by high uncertainty.

Source: CoinGecko