Pump.science and Hedgehog Markets have joined forces to promote decentralized science-focused betting contracts as the DeSci sector continues to gain momentum.
The collaboration, announced on January 8, will allow bettors to speculate on laboratory mice undergoing experiments aimed at increasing human life expectancy. Pump.science, a blockchain research project disrupting traditional academia by funding scientific initiatives and launching tokenized protocols, is backed by the Solana Foundation.
According to a blog post from Pump.science, Hedgehog Markets users will have the opportunity to place bets on mice participating in endurance tests on a rotating rod. These tests will be conducted over a two-month period, with each mouse given a unique name.
Participants can access video footage of the mice, preliminary data, and insights from past experiments to inform their predictions on which mouse will stay on the rotarod the longest each week. This innovative approach aims to introduce a new and engaging participation model of scientific discovery through Hedgehog Markets.
Benji Leibowitz, founder of Pump.science, believes that live streams of mouse longevity tests will revolutionize the way people engage with scientific research. Hedgehog Markets offers a platform for betting contracts that allow users to predict real-world events such as politics, sports, and crypto prices, similar to Polygon-based Polymarket.
Pump.science is part of the growing DeSci sector, which is currently valued at over $2 billion. Projects like BIO Protocol, backed by industry giants like Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin, and Maelstrom boss Arthur Hayes, are leading the way in promoting DeSci as a major narrative in the crypto space in 2025.
The partnership between Pump.science and Hedgehog Markets signifies a step forward in leveraging blockchain technology for scientific advancement and innovative betting opportunities. As the DeSci sector continues to evolve, collaborations like this will play a crucial role in driving progress and fostering engagement within the scientific community.