Decoding BIO Protocol & DeSci's Big Dreams

As the launch of the BIO Protocol nears, tokens in the Decentralized Science (DeSci) ecosystem have seen a surge in value.

This excitement has continued from the launch of tokens associated with cutting-edge technologies like DeSci and AI, with the boundary remaining blurred as tokens associated with these technologies have seen a surge in value leading up to the launch of BIO. Being a key hub for DeSci financing, the introduction of BIO has brought hope to DeSci, with the highly experimental field garnering attention from the outside world and attracting more attention and capital to DeSci over time.

This article will explore how the BIO Protocol functions, the challenges it aims to address, and the DAOs operating under its protection. It will then explore how other projects fill the DeSci narrative and provide additional tools or use cases to transform scientific collaboration and funding.

The BIO Protocol is essentially a decentralized, token-governed platform that supports and incubates specialized BioDAOs. By incorporating funding decisions, intellectual property ownership, and governance on-chain, several long-standing barriers in the biotechnology field are directly addressed by the protocol:

To achieve these goals, several core mechanisms are implemented by BIO.

BIO holders can lock their tokens (vBIO) to help decide which new BioDAOs are admitted into the network.

This process ensures that only the most promising or community-supported ventures are admitted, as those committing to support must stake BIO for a certain period. If approved, stakers can exclusively participate in the funding rounds of the BioDAOs.

After the curation phase is completed, private seed pre-auctions are opened by BioDAOs for those who have locked vBIO.

This allows early supporters of the DAO and the BIO community to participate in the funding of early-stage scientific research on terms traditionally reserved for VCs. Meanwhile, the liquidity is handled by the BIO Protocol on behalf of these BioDAOs, eliminating the need for them to oversee secondary markets. The BIO treasury pairs tokens (e.g., VITA/BIO or HAIR/BIO) with ETH or other assets to generate fees for the protocol while ensuring stable trading pairs. This arrangement allows BioDAOs to focus on advancing research rather than being preoccupied with market operations.

Since a portion of each BioDAO token is held by the BIO treasury, BIO holders collectively gain influence within the broader DeSci ecosystem.

This meta-governance structure enables them to guide decisions across multiple BioDAOs, whether determining research priorities or emphasizing synergies between projects. Additionally, by diversifying the assets held by the treasury, the protocol enhances its ability to invest in new projects and reinvest in existing ones, thereby achieving seamless coordination in the ever-expanding field of scientific research.

To incentivize clear and measurable contributions to its network, BIO issues "bio/acc rewards" in the form of additional BIO tokens to BioDAOs that achieve key milestones. In addition to these incentives, BioDAOs can also tokenize their IP (from research data to patents). By issuing IP tokens, BioDAOs can grant partial ownership of their research outcomes, allowing more stakeholders to benefit from future scientific breakthroughs while retaining control over key decisions and potentially earning from the use of their data.

Beyond direct incentives, the overall value of the network also grows through token distribution and liquidity owned by the protocol. Grants to new BioDAOs can be exchanged for a small equity stake in their tokens, while liquidity pool fees flow back to the treasury. As BioDAOs mature and generate tangible results, the total value of these assets will increase, reinforcing a virtuous cycle of funding, growth, and innovation.

Currently, there are eight active BioDAOs in the BIO network, each focusing on specific research areas.

VitaDAO was launched in 2021 to support research aimed at extending the human lifespan. Funded by Pfizer Ventures and Balaji Srinivasan, it explores the biological mechanisms of aging, including neurodegenerative diseases.

Quantum Biology DAO studies how weak magnetic fields affect cells at the quantum level. It collaborates with the Quantum Biology Institute to develop quantum microscopes, opening new avenues for longevity research, drug discovery, and more.

HairDAO unites patients, researchers, and funders to collaboratively address the resource scarcity issue of hair loss.

ValleyDAO is dedicated to seeking synthetic biology solutions to combat climate change, such as engineering microbes to capture carbon dioxide or produce biodegradable materials.

AthenaDAO focuses on women's health, filling gaps neglected by traditional funding. Through a decentralized community of patients, scientists, and advocates, it supports projects on reproductive health, hormonal disorders, and other under-researched topics in female biology.

CryoDAO allocates funding for cryopreservation research to improve the storage of organs and tissues, a solution with life-saving potential.

PsyDAO focuses on psychedelic research for mental health issues such as depression, addiction, and PTSD. It employs a decentralized funding model and AI-based auditing to accelerate the exploration of new compounds, while on-chain governance ensures transparency in resource allocation.