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Decentralized Science (DeSci) Economic Theory 

Sasha Shilina 

This chapter seeks to articulate a conceptual framework for Decentralized Science (DeSci) Economic Theory, positing how decentralized technologies are set to transform the structural foundations of the scientific ecosystem, reshaping its governance, funding, and collaboration mechanisms. The theory is built upon three key pillars: first, the ontological nature of economics as a discipline that addresses scarcity and coordination, wherein decentralized systems introduce novel efficiencies in resource allocation for research; second, the economics of science which confronts the intrinsic public-good nature of knowledge and the inherent challenges in its incentivization and production; and third, DeSci's unique innovation in leveraging blockchain technology to forge transparent, equitable, and decentralized ecosystems for scientific inquiry. Through the use of smart contracts and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), DeSci allows for peer-to-peer funding, decentralized governance, and an open, immutable record of scientific contributions, fostering trust and collaboration on a global scale. Ultimately, this chapter presents DeSci as the catalyst for a paradigm shift in how humanity approaches knowledge creation and dissemination—one in which science is no longer confined by centralized control, but thrives in a borderless, self-organizing, and dynamically responsive global infrastructure.