What happens when over 350 people show up in person, and more than 53,000 join online from around the world, to reimagine the future of science? You get DeSci.Berlin 2025.
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11 min read
•Cansu Yanik
On 10 & 11 June, the Molecule HQ transformed into a dynamic forum for the future of science, where real-world applications and visionary ideas in decentralized science took center stage.
This year’s gathering was marked by a clear sense of purpose and visible traction. Progress in decentralized clinical trials, tokenized IP frameworks, and new infrastructure tools was front and center in keynotes, panels, and discussions; highlighting how DeSci has been moving from theory to real-world impact.
Let’s look back at some of the key moments and takeaways from this year’s event.
Paul Kohlhaas: Science needs a system upgrade
Molecule & BIO’s CEO Paul Kohlhaas opened the conference with a keynote that challenged the status quo. He called out the structural inefficiencies baked into traditional science, from funding bottlenecks to perverse incentives that disincentivize cures.
Drawing a line from Bitcoin’s challenge to centralized finance, Paul positioned DeSci as the necessary reinvention of the scientific ecosystem. He emphasized that the future of science is permissionless, built on open, decentralized infrastructure that anyone can contribute to.
Key highlights from his talk focused on how to scale DeSci sustainably. Paul stressed the importance of avoiding redundancy by encouraging collaboration across the ecosystem, rather than siloed replication. He advocated for building and sharing core primitives like tokenized IP, a concept pioneered by Molecule through the implementation of IP-NFT and IPTs, and DAO tooling, an area where BIO is actively supporting the growth of the BioDAO ecosystem, to create a stable foundation. He also called for a stronger focus on the demand side of science, ensuring projects deliver clear value to funders and end users. Finally, he highlighted AI’s growing role in accelerating discovery and the importance of metrics-based, data-driven development.
His message was clear: for DeSci to thrive, it must stay collaborative, accountable, and aligned with real impact.
I have a deep passion for science, communication, and storytelling, which I’ve been able to combine throughout my academic and professional journey. I hold an M.Sc. in Molecular Sciences and a Bachelor's in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, and Minor degree in Chemistry. My academic path has led me through 3 countries and 5 laboratories, where I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with diverse international teams.
They pointed to familiar blockers: slow tech transfer, funding gaps, risk-averse academic culture, and bureaucratic friction. However, the panel struck a hopeful tone. Cultural change, better support for early founders, and advances in AI were highlighted as ways to unlock stalled potential.
DeSci was framed as part of the solution by enabling faster funding, leaner coordination, and community-driven experimentation. Emerging areas like neurotech, preventative health, and longevity were highlighted as ripe for this model.
The message: change is possible, but it takes intentional shifts in both structure and mindset.
Molecule Labs launched at DeSci.Berlin
Kevin Noessler, Chief Product Officer at Molecule, unveiled Molecule Labs for the first time at DeSci.Berlin, marking a major leap forward for transparency in the DeSci ecosystem. The announcement was met with genuine excitement from the room, as attendees recognized the significance of what this unlocks for onchain science.
The platform brings scientific work onchain, turning static updates into dynamic, verifiable logs. With versioning, access control, and decentralized storage, project leads now can publish milestones in real time while communities track progress transparently. Built for BioDAOs and research teams, Molecule Labs streamlines data management, tokenization, and fundraising from a single hub. It also integrates with the DeSci Screener to align research milestones with crypto-native incentives.
Positioned as a “GitHub for DeSci” Molecule Labs lays the groundwork for a more open, accountable, and coordinated research ecosystem. Several projects, CLAW, HEMPY, VITARNA, and PSYMARK have already begun sharing progress updates through the platform.
DeSci from the Investor Seat
The panel "DeSci from the Investor Seat" featured moderator John Spies in conversation with Jakub Rusiecki, Patrick Mayr, and Dr. Georg Stricker, offering investors’ views on how DeSci fits into today’s evolving landscape.
They highlighted DeSci’s ability to bridge crypto-native models with real-world scientific outcomes.
A recurring theme was the need for better infrastructure to support growth and participation. Dr. Stricker noted that, like early open-source software, science needs a modern tech stack to scale. Genomics, consumer health, and AI-driven experimentation were seen as especially promising.
The next wave of success in DeSci, they suggested, will come from projects that combine scientific credibility with crypto-native coordination and deliver clear, measurable outcomes, from therapeutic breakthroughs to new models for funding and ownership.
Pitch, Vote, Build: Nucleate Pitch Competition
As part of the ongoing Molecule x Nucleate partnership, DeSci.Berlin 2025 hosted a high-energy pitch competition featuring four standout teams from Nucleate Germany’s Activator program. These early-stage biotech ventures, led by academic founders turned entrepreneurs, took to the stage to share bold visions; ranging from tumor avatars powered by AI (Oncera), to personalized deficiency monitoring (Keynostic), to low-cost early cancer detection (ExoSphere), and safer antifungal drug delivery (Aulixir Therapeutics).
With the crowd acting as jury, attendees casted live votes, ultimately selecting ExoSphere, pitched by Negar Shahmoradi, as the winner.
Blockchain infra for real-world science
The cross-chain panel brought together voices from Ethereum Foundation, Solana, Gnosis, MetaMask, and BIO. Dr. Friederike Ernst highlighted the misalignment between academic incentives and public good outcomes, arguing that DAOs offer a path to realign them.
Theodor Beutel cautioned against using blockchain for its own sake, urging focus on real problems. Tools like zk-tech, encryption, and modular coordination were seen as more immediately useful than fully onchain systems.
Patricia Albrecht shared how Solana’s Superteam model helps early-stage builders, while the panel emphasized that targeted experimentation, especially in areas like rare diseases, will define what scalable DeSci looks like.
Marco de Rossi laid out five areas where crypto infra adds value: discovery, problem definition, reproducibility, privacy, and incentives. The challenge now is stitching those Legos together with clear UX and clear intent.
Tokenized IP: building faster, sharing smarter
In the panel on tokenized IP, representatives from VitaDAO, ValleyDAO, and PsyDAO shared how BioDAOs are reshaping biotech fundraising and research ownership.
Each DAO outlined its distinct approach: ValleyDAO proactively scouts climate biotech projects, PsyDAO uses a cooperative token structure to decentralize decision-making, and VitaDAO blends inbound applications with a fellowship program to support early-stage ideas.
The discussion emphasized how tokenized IP accelerates funding, enables research pivots, and fosters better cultural alignment.
Examples included precision fermentation, preclinical RNA therapies launched with under $400k, and ethical frameworks in psychedelic research that honor indigenous rights while reducing due diligence costs.
Clinical trials, reimagined
One of the most grounded conversations happened in the decentralized clinical trials panel. Panelists from Molecule, Reputable Health, CerebrumDAO, Welshare, and Future4Care shared how token-based incentives, wearables, and remote diagnostics are reshaping clinical research.
It was discussed how teams are now running pilot trials in months, not years, with budgets under $100k, using tools like biomarker tracking, cognitive assessments, and privacy-aware recruitment to enable faster, more inclusive studies.
Stefan Adolf from Welshare stressed that decentralization alone isn’t a privacy solution, but paired with encryption, decentralized identifiers, and thoughtful UX, it puts control back in patients’ hands. While pharma hesitancy remains, the path forward is clear: transparency, speed, and community involvement are shifting the model.
Workshops at Westberlin Café
While the main stage brought the big ideas, the workshops at Westberlin Café were where builders rolled up their sleeves. These hands-on sessions gave participants practical tools, frameworks, and space to collaborate. Nour Karoui led a session on registering Proof of Innovation, while Paula Vulić shared strategies for marketing DeSci projects. Si Maclennan helped founders refine their messaging to better communicate complex ideas.
On Day 2, Sean Brennan and Aakaash Meduri from BIO explored how AI agents can speed up research workflows, and Edvard Hübinette and Erik Van Winkle walked through decentralized publishing. One of the most packed sessions covered tokenized clinical trial infrastructure, led by Aaron Weaver, Stefan Adolf, and Erik Van Winkle.
These workshops made one thing clear: DeSci doesn’t offer just a vision, but a toolkit ready to use.
That’s a Wrap on DeSci.Berlin 2025
DeSci.Berlin 2025 was a checkpoint in the movement that's been accelerating. The energy was high, and the vibe was extremely positive.
Beyond the insightful talks, dynamic panels and practical workshops, the heart of the event was in the connections; reuniting with old friends, meeting new ones, exchanging ideas, and co-creating what comes next. The spontaneous conversations, spirited debates, and brainstorms were just as impactful as anything on the stage.
To everyone who joined us at the Molecule HQ or tuned in from around the world: thank you. Your energy and contributions push this ecosystem forward.
Missed DeSci Berlin 2025? No worries. All main stage talks are being uploaded to the Molecule YouTube channel.And if you want to relive the vibe or spot yourself in the crowd: browse the full event photo set.Stay connected, keep building, and let’s carry this momentum into the next chapter of DeSci.
