What is ResearchCoin (RSC)?

TLDR ResearchCoin (RSC) is a decentralized science (DeSci) token designed to incentivize open collaboration in academic research through community-driven rewards and governance.

1. Purpose: Rewards scientists and contributors for sharing/curating research.
2. Technology: ERC-20 token on Ethereum and Base L2 for low-cost transactions.
3. Governance: Token holders vote on community decisions and tokenomics.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

RSC aims to democratize scientific research by rewarding contributions like sharing papers, peer reviews, and open-source development. Users earn RSC based on how the community values their work, aligning incentives with quality contributions. It challenges traditional paywalled research models by funding open-access projects and enabling micro-grants for studies (e.g., a $5,000 RSC grant for a driving simulation study).

2. Technology & Architecture

RSC operates as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, with a 1:1 bridged version on Coinbase’s Base network for faster, cheaper transactions. This dual-chain approach balances Ethereum’s security with Base’s scalability, targeting researchers in cost-sensitive environments.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

• Supply: Fixed at 1 billion RSC, with 60% allocated to community distribution.
• Utility: Used for tipping, funding bounties, voting on proposals (e.g., adding/removing research hubs), and accessing moderation tools.
• Governance: Decentralized decision-making allows token holders to shape platform policies and adjust token allocations via proposals.

Conclusion

ResearchCoin reimagines academic incentives by tying crypto rewards to scientific collaboration, powered by a hybrid Ethereum/Base infrastructure. As DeSci gains traction, can RSC’s community-centric model scale to disrupt traditional research funding?