Decentralized science (DeSci) is a movement aiming to upgrade traditional science processes by providing a public infrastructure for publication, funding, reviewing, crediting, storing, and disseminating research using the Web3 stack. Through the use of advanced tools and technologies (e.g., blockchain, non-fungible tokens [NFTs], decentralized autonomous organizations [DAOs], crypto tokens, and smart contracts) DeSci aims to create a fairer and more equitable system for advancing scientific endeavors. DeSci wants to make it easy and incentivized for anyone to share their scientific work as well as access and contribute to research by others.
DeSci proponents want scientific knowledge to be accessible and the process of research to be more transparent. They believe the Web3 stack offers a solution to build a decentralized and distributed scientific research model with less censorship and control from central authorities. Additionally, new and less conventional ideas can flourish by decentralizing access to funding, scientific tools, and communication channels. This includes diversifying funding sources to include decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and crowdfunding and providing incentives for reproducibility.
