The DeSci wave is rising, can on-chain research become the new favorite MEME?

Recently, decentralized science (DeSci) has become the focus of the crypto market. This concept aims to utilize Web3 technology to build public infrastructure, facilitating transparency in fundraising, knowledge sharing, and peer review in research. The core of DeSci is to open new financing channels for long-term research projects, connecting the seemingly unrelated fields of crypto and research.

The rise of this round of DeSci craze originates from a series of high-profile events. A certain trading platform's strategic investment in the BIO Protocol, as well as joint discussions by industry figures at related events, have brought DeSci to the forefront. The market immediately sparked a wave of DeSci enthusiasm, with several relevant projects experiencing significant growth. Some industry insiders even compare the current stage of DeSci development to the DeFi era of early 2019, believing it has immense potential.

However, there is a clear contradiction between the long-term nature of DeSci and the short-term profit-seeking nature of the MEME field. Research projects typically require long-term and sustained investment, while the crypto market often chases short-term trends. At present, the market's attention on DeSci is mainly focused on token issuance platforms for research projects, reflecting investors' preference for quick profits.

In fact, DeSci is not a brand new concept. As early as July 2021, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) project focused on funding longevity research was launched. Although the project briefly attracted attention, its subsequent development has not been as ideal as expected.

Another challenge faced by DeSci is the closed nature of the research field. The traditional research system places a high value on data confidentiality, which conflicts with the open and transparent philosophy of blockchain. Therefore, the application of DeSci may be more suitable for research topics that require high collaboration, long cycles, and significant difficulty.

From the market performance perspective, although the DeSci sector has seen a recent increase, the market capitalization of related projects is still far below that of the leading projects in other popular sectors. This indicates that the participation of large institutions and investors in DeSci remains limited.

However, compared to other MEME projects, DeSci has certain advantages. It has stronger narrative and fundamental support, and any scientific breakthrough could reinforce its value proposition. In addition, the open attitude towards financing in the biomedical field, as well as the potential cross-disciplinary influence of DeSci, provide possibilities for its future development.

In the current market environment, the MEME project has become the main bearer of funds. Unlike the traditional bull market transmission path, the current market capital flow shows new characteristics. Institutional funds mainly flow into the Bitcoin ecosystem, while altcoins face a supply-demand structural crisis. In this situation, the MEME project, characterized by quick in and out and concentrated wealth effects, stands out.

The rise of the MEME market reflects that the crypto market is undergoing profound changes, including shifts in narrative logic, dissemination models, and operational methods. The market seems to lean more towards projects that are fair, autonomous, and closely aligned with the core values of tokens. The combination of MEME and research projects may represent a new form of competitiveness.

Nonetheless, successful MEME projects are still rare. Data shows that only a tiny proportion of MEME tokens can reach a high market value. For individual investors, maintaining stability and avoiding significant losses in this rapidly changing market remains a top priority.