Half of the top 10 decentralized science (DeSci) projects by market capitalization were launched in 2024, according to a recent chart shared by Messari. This rapid emergence of this segment of the crypto market highlights continued innovation and growing interest.

The chart, based on CoinGecko data as of December 30, 2024, compares the market caps of the top 10 DeSci projects over the past year. The data shows strong performance across the board, with many projects growing substantially.

Market Leaders and Trends in DeSci

OriginTrail tops the list with a market cap over $350 million, up from $200 million at the end of 2023. VitaDAO, which had a market cap under $100 million at the end of 2023, passed the $150 million mark by the end of 2024. ResearchHub follows with its market cap above $100 million, doubling its value from the end of 2023.

Messari’s finding that 50% of the top 10 DeSci projects launched in the past year highlights the sector’s rapid growth. Many of these newer projects have quickly become major players.

For instance, new projects with multi-million dollar market caps include Urolithin A, at $66.3 million, Rifampicin at $59 million, and AxonDAO at $65 million.

The decentralized science sector’s overall expansion suggests a move toward embracing blockchain-based solutions for research, funding, and collaboration.

The project with the smallest market cap, The Innovation Game (TIG), reached $23 million. It’s benefiting from the increasing demand for decentralized solutions in science and technology.

DeSci Leads in Price and Social Engagement

In related news, the DeSci sector emerged as the top-performing crypto category, with an average asset performance of +11.55%, according to LunarCrush analytics. 

Additionally, the sector continues to gain traction as social activity around its top projects surges. OriginTrail (TRAC) leads the field with 1.38K mentions, reflecting a significant increase of 293 mentions. 

Dynex (DNX) follows with 801 mentions, up 265, showing its growing importance in the sector. ResearchCoin (RSC) also stands out with 625 mentions, an increase of 152.
Other notable projects include AxonDAO (AXGT) with 505 mentions, GenomesDAO (GENOME) with 503, and VitaDAO (VITA) with 283, all seeing more social media activity. Smaller projects like NCDT, Data Lake, and Galeon also show rising engagement.