OceanDAO

Decentralized ocean DNA sequencing and marine research

OceanDAO is accelerating breakthrough research in ocean genomics through decentralized funding and open collaboration. Our community of marine biologists, oceanographers, and environmental scientists is working to sequence and understand marine DNA to protect ocean biodiversity, discover new species, and develop sustainable marine biotechnology.

By democratizing access to ocean research data and creating new funding mechanisms for marine exploration, we're building a future where ocean conservation is driven by scientific understanding and community action.

$1,625,000 65%
Raised of $2,500,000 23 days left
Overview
Market Hypothesis
Team & Community
Roadmap
Value Capture Model
Recommended Reads

About OceanDAO

The ocean covers 71% of Earth's surface and contains 97% of the planet's water, yet less than 5% has been explored. Ocean DNA sequencing represents one of the most promising frontiers in understanding marine biodiversity, discovering new species, and developing sustainable biotechnology.

OceanDAO changes this by creating a decentralized research network where:

  • Researchers can access funding without institutional gatekeepers
  • Patients can contribute data and participate in governance
  • Discoveries are open-source and benefit the entire community
  • IP is tokenized and revenue flows back to contributors

Our initial focus areas include marine biodiversity conservation, endangered species tracking, sustainable marine biotechnology, and ocean health monitoringβ€”areas where genomic research shows tremendous promise but lacks sufficient funding from traditional sources.

Key Initiatives

🧬 Ocean Genome Atlas

Building the world's largest open-access database of marine DNA samples with standardized metadata and analysis pipelines.

πŸ’Š Precision Probiotics

Using machine learning to identify new marine species from environmental DNA samples collected worldwide.

πŸ”¬ Community Labs

Establishing decentralized research vessels where citizen scientists can conduct ocean DNA sampling.

πŸ“Š Patient Registry

Creating a global network for real-time ocean health monitoring through DNA analysis.

Market Opportunity

The global ocean economy is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2030. Ocean genomics represents a $50B+ opportunity in marine biotechnology, conservation, and sustainable resource management. Yet current approaches are limited by:

  • Centralized R&D controlled by a few large pharma companies
  • Limited data sharing between research institutions
  • High costs and long timelines for clinical trials
  • Lack of patient involvement in research priorities

Our Thesis

Decentralized Discovery

Open collaboration accelerates discovery by 10x compared to siloed research. Our network enables any scientist to contribute and be rewarded.

Patient-Driven Research

Patients know their conditions best. By giving them governance power, we ensure research focuses on real-world impact, not just publications.

IP-NFT Monetization

Tokenizing research outputs creates liquid markets for scientific IP, enabling faster commercialization and fair value distribution.

Network Effects

Each new researcher, patient, and dataset makes the network more valuable, creating a flywheel that attracts top talent and funding.

Core Team

🌊
Dr. Marina Chen
Scientific Lead
πŸ’»
Alex Reef
Protocol Architect
🀿
Dr. James Deep
Oceanography Advisor
🧬
Sarah Coral
Data Science Lead
βš“
Captain Tom Waters
Operations
πŸ”¬
Dr. Lisa Tide
Research Director

Community

Our community includes over 2,000 members across:

  • 450+ researchers from 80+ institutions
  • 1,200+ patients and health advocates
  • 300+ developers and data scientists
  • 150+ healthcare practitioners

Join our Discord to connect with the community, participate in research discussions, and contribute to governance decisions.

Project Roadmap

Phase 1 - Foundation
DAO Infrastructure & Community Building
Launch governance token, establish DAO structure, recruit initial research team, build community of 1000+ members
Phase 2 - Data Platform
Ocean DNA Database Launch
Deploy data infrastructure, standardize analysis pipelines, onboard first 10,000 samples, launch researcher portal
Phase 3 - Research Network
Decentralized Studies Begin
Fund first 5 research projects, establish community lab partnerships, launch patient registry with 5,000+ participants
Phase 4 - Therapeutic Development
First Precision Probiotic Trials
Begin clinical trials for IBD treatment, launch personalized probiotic platform, establish manufacturing partnerships
Phase 5 - Commercialization
Market Launch & Revenue Generation
First therapeutic products to market, IP-NFT licensing deals, sustainable revenue flowing to DAO treasury

Value Capture Model

πŸ’Š
Therapeutic Sales
Revenue from sustainable marine biotechnology applications and biomaterials
πŸ”¬
IP Licensing
Patents and discoveries tokenized as IP-NFTs, with licensing fees distributed to contributors
πŸ“Š
Data Monetization
Anonymized ocean health data licensed to climate researchers and policy makers
πŸ₯
Clinical Services
Environmental DNA analysis services for governments and conservation organizations
πŸŽ“
Education Platform
Ocean science courses and certification programs for marine conservationists
🌐
Network Fees
Transaction fees from the decentralized research marketplace

Token Economics

The MICROBE token serves as the governance and utility token for the ecosystem:

  • Governance rights over research priorities and treasury allocation
  • Staking for access to premium data and analysis tools
  • Rewards for contributing data, research, or peer review
  • Priority access to new therapeutics and clinical trials

Token distribution: 30% community treasury, 25% research grants, 20% team (4-year vesting), 15% investors, 10% ecosystem rewards

Essential Reading

Research Papers