5 days ago
How crypto is changing the way research is conducted
I was scrolling TikTok last week and landed on an influencer interviewing Chris Crecelius, founder of AxonDAO, at the Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas.
It turns out Chris has been tackling medical problems with technology since 2013, long before he knew what crypto even was. One of AxonDAO's many projects allows people to make money from their own genetic information – something well-known predecessors in the DNA space charged us for and then made millions from. They apply the power of Web3 to improve the way science works, connecting regular people with digital replicas of their body.
'The idea is that we all possess something valuable for science, for humanity, and now that we can digitise our likeness as a perfect machine,' he explains in the video. 'We can test these things and understand how our body
will react.'
In this world, we would be able try out new medicines and therapies on our digital twin before taking them ourselves. The possibilities are almost endless. The crypto angle? You can invest directly in this project through tokens the company issues. (Full disclosure: AxonDAO's token is AXGT, and I have owned a little bit of it since last year)
In this world, we would be able try out new medicines and therapies on our digital twin before taking them ourselves. The possibilities are almost endless. The crypto angle? You can invest directly in this project through tokens the company issues
This is just one example of a world of opportunity that exists in decentralised science — or DeSci. This is a rapidly growing movement few ordinary people seem to know about, one that applies blockchain technology to how scientific research is funded, conducted, shared, and reviewed. It's not just technical innovation; it's a philosophical shift. And it might just fix what's broken.
Blockchain — the tech behind Bitcoin and Ethereum — is essentially a tamper-proof, decentralised digital ledger. No single authority controls it. It's secure, transparent, and immutable – meaning it has never been nor can ever be changed. When applied to science, that means funding decisions can be made by the community. Research data can be verified, peer-reviewed and stored permanently. Contributors can be rewarded directly. And anyone can participate.
The DeSci space is already buzzing with initiatives, many of which aim to solve long-standing issues in research:
Democratising research funding: Instead of waiting for grants or institutional support, scientists can now raise funds directly from communities who care about their work. Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) like VitaDAO and AthenaDAO let token-holders vote on what gets funded, and they can even earn a return if the research leads to viable products or therapies.
Ensuring transparency: Traditional research is riddled with selective publication, hidden data, and academic bias. With blockchain technology, the whole process, from protocols to results, is open for scrutiny.
Speeding up peer review and publishing: Platforms like ResearchHub are reimagining how research gets shared. Instead of costly, biased academic journals, blockchain-based review systems allow open access and community feedback, with contributors earning crypto tokens for participation.
Expanding global collaboration: Blockchain removes institutional silos, enabling researchers around the world to connect and collaborate seamlessly. A scientist in Nairobi and one in Toronto could co-publish research in real time.
RESPECTING DATA OWNERSHIP
AxonDAO isn't the only one offering the chance for people to share their data. GenomesDAO offers individuals the ability to store and control their DNA data, with the option to share it for research and get compensated. This flips the script on major genomics companies that have profited from user data without offering anything back.
Even intellectual property — one of science's biggest bottlenecks — is being rethought. The NobleBlocks project lets researchers tokenise their discoveries, creating tradeable IP assets that maintain ownership while enabling faster innovation.
It's early days, but there are already more than 100 DeSci projects underway. There's PoSciDonDAO, focusing on sustainable development. HairDAO is researching hair loss. VitaDAO is all-in on longevity. AthenaDAO is dedicated to women – to closing the gender gap in medical research.
What I find most compelling is how this space encourages participation. You don't have to be a PhD to contribute. You can fund projects, propose ideas, analyse data, or just help spread the word. For anyone who's ever felt left out of the scientific conversation, this is your invitation.
What Chris Crecelius and others are building isn't just technical innovation. It's cultural revolution. By merging blockchain, AI and community governance, they're giving science back to the people.
While many of these ideas may take years to scale, many projects will fail and others will soar – and no one knows who will emerge as the leader – the direction is clear: decentralisation isn't just a financial story — it's a scientific one.
And just like blockchain and cryptocurrency are levelling the investing playing field, DeSci brings our health out of gate-kept government labs, questionable peer review practices and Ivy League universities, creating a light-filled space we can all find a way to be involved in.
