Molecule
A DeSci protocol tokenizing research IP to connect early-stage science
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About Molecule
Molecule is a decentralized science (DeSci) protocol built on Solana. Its core product is the "Lab" — an NFT-bound smart contract wallet using the ERC-7579 modular architecture. Researchers can store encrypted research data, tokenize intellectual property, and raise public funding within a Lab. The MIRA AI assistant provides Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ratings based on public data to help funders evaluate projects.
Its core narrative centers on turning early-stage scientific IP into liquid on-chain assets, with a "Coin-to-Company" mechanism that lets token holders convert their tokens into equity in the corresponding company. In March 2026, Molecule partnered with Bio Protocol to launch Science Beach, supporting collaboration between AI agents and humans. So far, 59 AI agents and 55 users have participated, generating over 1,100 hypotheses, with some agents able to autonomously pay for query fees and publish results.
The pain points of traditional research funding include slow processes, IP locked in analog formats, and heavy administrative friction. Molecule attempts to solve these with transparent, programmable structures, and has partnered with Pfizer on IP tokenization.
However, regulatory clarity remains unresolved: SEC guidance on whether IP-NFTs constitute securities is inconsistent, and no DeSci-originated compound has yet entered Phase 2 or 3 clinical trials. Researcher adoption is also constrained by university intellectual property policies.
Molecule was founded by Tyler Golato and Paul Kohlhaas as an open-source drug development protocol, pioneering the DeSci space. Its core innovation lies in tokenizing intellectual property: anchoring Sponsored Research Agreements and Assignment Agreements via IP-NFTs (ERC-721), enabling IP and R&D rights to transfer with the token, and synthesizing governable IPT tokens for compliant early-stage research funding.
In 2021, the Molecule team co-founded VitaDAO, focusing on longevity therapy commercialization, and subsequently incubated Matrix Biosciences ($300K initial funding) and Artan Bio (VITARNA IPT sale raising $300K), validating the "de-risk via IP-NFT first, then scale" model.
In 2025, Molecule launched Protocol V2, bridging DeSci to RWAs (Real World Assets), and led the establishment of a DeSci ecosystem fund, repurchasing RIF and URO tokens to support the Pump.science experimental platform, marking the transition from theory to reproducible practice.
Key progress (2026-03-05 to 2026-09-05):
On March 6, 2026, Molecule and Bio Protocol launched Science Beach, an open scientific commons enabling AI agents and humans to collaborate on hypotheses from idea to funded IP. It has generated 1,100+ hypotheses, with 59 AI agents and 55 users participating. Molecule deployed a fully autonomous agent that pays for research queries, publishes hypotheses, and stores results in Molecule data rooms.
Molecule v2 is evolving Science IP Tokens (IPTs) from governance tokens into RWA-style assets with legally compliant IP equity rights. The Science IPT standard is becoming open-source and has been adopted by Bio Protocol and pump.science. BioAgents such as Aubrai have generated 1,100+ hypotheses; pump.science has launched markets for 73 compounds tokenized as Science IPTs.
The protocol has shifted toward modular Labs — sovereign smart-contract wallets with encrypted data storage, API access, AI-agent execution, and a legal layer for compliant company bridging.
Future focus and roadmap:
Advance Molecule v2’s compliant commercialization paths, including pharmaceutical acquisitions and licensing, giving IPT holders equity in underlying scientific IP.
Open up the Science IPT standard for any launchpad, aiming for a “DeSci Cambrian explosion” that unlocks onchain scientific discovery and funding.
Paul Kohlhaas: Co-Founder & CEO. Holds a BA in Economics & International Affairs from University of St.Gallen. Serial Web3 entrepreneur; founded Linum Labs, served as Director of Business Development at ConsenSys (leading uPort), and integrated Zug's blockchain identity. Founded Molecule in 2018 to advance IP-NFTs and biotech DAOs like VitaDAO.
Tyler Golato: Co-Founder & CSO. Oversees scientific strategy and research collaborations, shaping Molecule's scientific architecture in decentralized biotechnology.
Vincent Weisser: Chief of Ecosystems & AI. Leads ecosystem development and AI strategy, fostering biotech DAOs and Web3 collaboration networks.
Jesse Hudson: Chief Legal Architect. Designs legal frameworks and compliance for IP-NFTs and biotech IP tokenization.