Arthur Hayes Bets Big on AI-Powered Science Revolution

Bio Protocol, a decentralized science (DeSci) protocol, has secured $6.9 million in seed funding, led by Arthur Hayes’ Maelstrom Fund. The round also attracted participation from several notable investors, including Mechanism Capital, Animoca Brands, Zee Prime Capital, Panga Capital, Mirana Ventures, Foresight Ventures, and Big Brain Holdings. This funding follows the launch of Bio V2, an updated platform designed to foster the development of an onchain “scientific superintelligence” through AI-native tools.

As a DeSci protocol, Bio Protocol enables scientists to transform their research into autonomous AI agents called BioAgents. These agents aim to streamline scientific research by reducing costs and enabling faster discovery while allowing researchers to raise funding through token sales. The platform leverages blockchain technology to democratize access to research funding, promote open data sharing, and reward scientists directly through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) rather than relying on traditional institutional gatekeepers.

Paul Kohlhaas, founder and CEO of Bio Protocol, likens the platform’s infrastructure to digital publishing. Just as digital platforms empower content creators to monetize their work outside traditional media, Bio Protocol aims to empower researchers to develop and commercialize scientific research outside traditional pharmaceutical structures. Arthur Hayes, Maelstrom’s founder and CIO, has expressed optimism about Bio Protocol’s potential to become a “category-defining launchpad” for community-driven scientific research. If successful, Hayes believes Bio Protocol could mark the emergence of an AI-native research market.

One of the first BioAgents, Aubrai, developed in collaboration with VitaDAO and longevity researcher Dr. Aubrey de Grey, has already minted over 1,000 scientific hypotheses onchain and raised $250,000 in research funding since its launch. Aubrai’s native token (AUBRAI) experienced a 150x increase in valuation, reaching a peak of approximately $40 million. The platform’s native BIO token, which is currently trading at around $0.16, has a market capitalization of approximately $309 million.

The Bio V2 platform introduced several new features, including the “Ignition Sales” model, which facilitates rapid, low-cap fundraising for new BioAgents, tokenized intellectual property, and BioDAOs. Users can earn BioXP points through staking, research contributions, and engagement, which grant them access to Ignition Sales. BioXP points can also be earned by staking the BIO token or other ecosystem tokens, thereby supporting liquidity and long-term participation in DeSci projects.

Looking ahead, more BioAgents and IP tokens across various scientific disciplines, such as dermatology, microbiome health, brain health, and men’s health, are expected to launch on the Bio V2 platform in the coming months. Bio Protocol’s ecosystem also includes projects advancing toward clinical milestones, such as VITA-FAST, a longevity program preparing for Phase 2 trials in the UAE; Percepta (CLAW), a patented brain health supplement entering human studies; and Curetopia (CURES), a pilot program for rare-disease treatment strategies.

Since last year, Bio Protocol’s network has directed more than $50 million in funding to research labs globally. With the new seed funding, the project aims to expand its BioAgent framework globally, creating a network of decentralized AI “science machines” designed to compress drug development timelines from “decades to months”.

The seed funding round reflects growing institutional confidence in the DeSci sector, which has raised a total of $896 million as of the latest estimates. Arthur Hayes, who previously led a blog post in January encouraging “risk-takers” to support DeSci projects, has positioned Bio Protocol as a key player in the sector.

The DeSci movement broadly seeks to use blockchain technology to create a more open, transparent, and affordable research ecosystem. By unifying AI, biotech, and crypto in a decentralized platform, Bio Protocol’s CEO envisions a future where drug development is significantly accelerated.