Bio Protocol is a decentralized science (DeSci) platform designed to function as a financial layer for biotechnology research and development. It enables communities, including scientists, patients, and investors, to fund, govern, and co-own new therapeutics and scientific innovations through entities known as Biotech Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (BioDAOs).^{[1] [2]}

Overview

Bio Protocol aims to address funding and accessibility gaps present in traditional scientific and pharmaceutical development. The platform operates as a decentralized marketplace that connects researchers and their projects with a global pool of capital and talent. By tokenizing scientific intellectual property (IP) and research projects, it allows for community-driven funding and governance, creating an alternative to conventional venture capital and institutional grants. The core mission is to accelerate the commercialization of promising scientific research, particularly in underfunded areas such as rare diseases, longevity, and women's health.^[1]

The protocol is built around a network of specialized BioDAOs, each focusing on a specific therapeutic area or research field. These DAOs function as independent, community-led organizations that source, fund, and manage research projects. The platform provides the infrastructure for these DAOs to launch, raise funds, and manage their assets on-chain. This model is intended to make early-stage biotech investment more accessible to a broader audience and to empower patient communities to take an active role in the development of treatments for their conditions.^[2]

History

The development of the Bio Protocol ecosystem began with the initiation of VitaDAO in July 2021, a BioDAO focused on longevity research. In August 2021, the first on-chain scientific funding occurred through a partnership with the University of Copenhagen. A significant milestone was reached in December 2022 when Pfizer's venture arm, Pfizer Ventures, participated in a $4.1 million funding round for VitaDAO. In June 2023, the first IP-Token (IPT) was launched in collaboration with Newcastle University, representing a new model for owning and transacting scientific IP.^[1]

By November 2023, the aggregate market capitalization of tokens associated with BioDAOs surpassed $200 million. The following month, HairDAO, another entity in the ecosystem, became the first DAO to file a scientific patent. The protocol received a strategic investment from Binance Labs in November 2024, marking the venture firm's first investment in the DeSci sector. In the same month, the BIO Genesis event raised over $33 million. The first version of the Bio Protocol platform, including its Launchpad and Liquidity Engine, went live in the first quarter of 2025. The project has announced plans to launch a Scientific AI Agent Launchpad in the third quarter of 2025.^[1]

Technology

The Bio Protocol's architecture is composed of several key components designed to facilitate the lifecycle of scientific research funding and development.^[2]

• Curation and Funding: The protocol uses a community-driven curation mechanism where holders of the native BIO token can evaluate and select scientific projects for inclusion in the network. Participants who contribute to this curation process may receive priority access to investment opportunities in these projects through fundraising events called "Ignition Sales." This system is designed to create a meritocratic selection process and allow individual investors to participate in early-stage funding rounds.^[1]
• Liquidity Management: An automated liquidity management system is integrated into the protocol to ensure stable funding flows for research projects. This feature manages trading pairs and builds protocol-owned liquidity, allowing research teams to focus on scientific work without managing complex financial operations.^[2]
• Bio/acc Rewards System: A rewards program, known as Bio/acc, incentivizes progress and milestone achievement. Projects within the ecosystem can receive bonus rewards in BIO tokens for reaching significant goals, such as initiating clinical trials, developing new treatments, or securing patents.^[2]
• Meta-Governance: The BIO token provides holders with meta-governance capabilities, allowing them to participate in decision-making across the various BioDAOs within the ecosystem. This creates an interconnected network where the community can influence the direction of multiple research initiatives.^[2]
• Scientific AI Agents: The protocol is developing a platform for the creation and launch of decentralized scientific AI agents. This initiative aims to leverage artificial intelligence to further automate and accelerate research processes within the ecosystem.^[1]

Tokenomics

The native utility and governance token of the Bio Protocol is $BIO. It is central to the platform's economic model and governance structure. The token has a maximum supply of 3.32 billion.^[2]

The primary utilities of the $BIO token include:

• Governance: Token holders can vote on protocol-level decisions and signal support for specific BioDAOs and research projects.
• Access: Holding and staking $BIO provides users with access to the BioXP rewards system, which in turn grants whitelisted access to the initial funding rounds (Ignition Sales) of new projects.
• Staking: Users can stake $BIO tokens to earn BioXP, which quantifies their contribution and engagement within the ecosystem.^[1]

The protocol generates revenue through two main channels. First, it receives a 6.9% allocation of the tokens from each new project launched on its platform, in exchange for which it provides a grant of $100,000. Second, it earns fees from its automated systems that manage token trading and liquidity pools. All revenue generated flows into the BIO treasury, which is used to reinvest in new projects and further develop the platform, creating a self-sustaining economic cycle. A portion of the total BIO supply (4%) is allocated to the Bio/acc rewards program to incentivize scientific achievements across the network.^[2]

Ecosystem and Use Cases

The Bio Protocol serves as a foundation for a growing ecosystem of specialized BioDAOs, each targeting a distinct area of scientific research. These organizations leverage the protocol's infrastructure to fund and advance their respective fields.

Notable BioDAOs within the ecosystem include:

• VitaDAO: Focuses on funding and commercializing longevity and aging research.
• AthenaDAO: Dedicated to advancing research in women's health and reproductive medicine.
• PsyDAO: Supports progress in psychedelic science and related therapeutic applications.
• ValleyDAO: Funds research in synthetic biology with applications in environmental sustainability.
• HairDAO: An organization focused on finding and funding solutions for hair loss.
• CryoDAO: Supports research and development in the field of cryopreservation.
• Cerebrum DAO: Aims to advance brain health and prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
• Curetopia: Focuses on tackling rare diseases by uniting patient communities and researchers.
• Long COVID Labs: Works to accelerate the development of treatments for Long COVID.
• Quantum Biology DAO: Funds the development of advanced tools, such as quantum microscopes, for biological research.

These organizations demonstrate the protocol's application across a wide range of biotechnology and health sectors.^[1]

Partnerships and Backers

Bio Protocol and its ecosystem projects have secured backing from a variety of venture capital firms and strategic partners in both the crypto and biotech industries. Key backers include 1kx, 50y, YZi Labs, and Northpond Ventures. The protocol has also received strategic investments from Binance Labs and has established a notable partnership through VitaDAO with Pfizer Ventures.^[1]

Team

The Bio Protocol team consists of professionals with backgrounds in tokenomics, research and development, product management, law, and marketing.

Core Team

• Paul Kohlhaas: Tokenomics
• James Sinka: R&D, Community
• Jose Pinto: Legal Counsel
• Clemens Ortlepp: Product
• Nate Hindman: Growth
• Stefano Glauser: Operations
• Alex Dobrin: Marketing
• Lukas Weidener: Operations
• Elliott Brunet: Tech
• Erik Van Winkle: Operations

Advisors

• Tyler Golato: Research Dealflow
• Vincent Weisser: AI + Research
• Beata Baranowska: Operations
• Jesse Hudson: Regulatory
• Schmackofant: Tech (IP-Tokens)

The team is supported by a broader group of contributors and advisors specializing in areas like artificial intelligence, decentralized finance, and bio-machine learning.^[1]