Rehash: A Web3 Podcast S11 E9 | Insights on the Future of DeSci w/Tarun Chitra (Gauntlet)
May 1, 2025
Tarun Chitra, CEO of Gauntlet and partner at Robot Ventures, brings intriguing insights on decentralized science (DeSci). He critiques traditional funding models, highlighting their shortcomings and the challenges DeSci faces, including misaligned incentives. The discussion also delves into the intersection of AI and crypto, emphasizing AI's potential to enhance decentralized organizations. Tarun stresses the need for accountability in scientific research while navigating the complexities of decentralized funding dynamics, all with a touch of personal hobbies and relaxation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
History of Science Funding Models
- Traditional science funding has heavily relied on government grants, especially post-World War II during the Cold War arms race.
- Private funding exists but tends to work better for well-defined problems rather than broad, exploratory research.
Trends and Accountability in DeSci
- Decentralized science (DeSci) projects often face challenges similar to academia, where being on the right research trend can be more important than being the best.
- Milestone-based funding is crucial but often missing in DeSci, leading to issues of accountability and project viability.
Privately Funded Science Emergence
- Post-Cold War reduction in US government science funding led to a rise in privately-funded targeted research by wealthy individuals.
- These private efforts focus narrowly on specific problems rather than exploratory science, contrasting the broad goals of early government funding.