On rare occasions, I write about lesser known people doing something extremely interesting or unique in the hair loss world. In many cases, this has involved writing about blog readers testing or outlining their own theories and concoctions to treat hair loss. In other cases, I wanted to support hard working sincere people involved in the hair loss world for many years with no financial driving force.
HairDAO: Autonomous Blockchain Technology to Cure Hair Loss
This time, I want to discuss a new blockchain based Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) called HairDAO. It was initiated by two hair loss sufferers. Ultimately, this venture might turn out to be meaningless (or worse, turn into a scam as more money becomes involved). But so far, I am impressed with what I have read and feel like it holds potential.
Also, as far as I know, blockchain based concepts are very transparent. They are extremely unlikely to turn into any kind of pyramid or ponzi scheme type fraud. Nevertheless, proceed with caution! For now, this is just something unique of interest to myself.
Biotechnology and health related DAOs are becoming increasingly common (e.g., VitaDAO for longevity and anti-aging research). See this list of other science related DAOs. I like VitaDAO’s slogan: “We’re democratising longevity.”
VitaDAO’s Discord is fully active and you can join them to get a better idea of the future of HairDAO’s Discord (my invite link expired). Also, the #VITA token is already being traded on the public blockchain. Another interesting one is LabDAO, which is in pre-launch mode, just like HairDAO.
Key Highlights of HairDAO
- HairDAO will be fully owned and operated on the Ethereum public blockchain.
- The two co-founders of this initiative are Andrew Bakst and Andrew Verbinnen. Both suffer from hair loss and treat it using medication.
- Their Whitepaper that just came out earlier this month is well worth a complete read. It covers many aspects of the current issues in the hair loss world when it comes to lack of funding for the most relevant treatments and research.
- The only token held by the Treasury at launch will be the $HAIR ERC-20 token. Most likely, it will be released before the end of 2022.
- There will be 1 billion $HAIR tokens minted at launch. These will be controlled by a temporary Gnosis Safe Multi-Signature Wallet.
- Follow them on Twitter if you find this concept interesting. Or on Discord if you are really a fan. FYI — HLC2020 also has its own Discord hair loss chat.
Per HairDAO’s Whitepaper, besides outright purchase, the $HAIR token can also be earned through: the provision of capital and operational work; the generation of intellectual property; the operation of manufacturing facilities; clinical trial participation; and regulatory advisement.
Note: I am not sure how this will all work. My intuition tells me that these kinds of co-operative community based projects are part of the long-term attraction of blockchain technology.
How will a DAO Help Hair Loss Research?
Upon first glance, it seems confusing as to how HairDAO can speed up hair loss research. Especially since most people assume that sales of tokens such as $HAIR are just to make money in a similar vein to stock trading or cryptocurrency coin trading.
However, the aim of a DAO is to collectively fund (or invest) in researchers and institutions via community discussion and voting. HairDAO will do this via its Discord channel where it has channels for proposals (and working groups in future). Perhaps they can rapidly raise funds for Dr. Tsuji and Riken as their first priority?
The chart below from their White Paper gives a general idea of how this will work.
Our primary goal is to solve hair loss. My personal opinion is that we need to deploy capital in a profitable way so that people can make money from holding our tokens and also solve a cause they care about. Otherwise we are just a charity for hair loss and I think profit-driven people are more likely to find solutions to problems. But ultimately the community will decide what is best — Andrew V.
I agree with the above quote. Moreover, people who believe very strongly in charity and volunteer work are less likely to be involved in a cosmetic/ beauty/appearance related field such as hair loss.
Disclaimer
Note that I am not being paid in any way whatsoever to write about HairDAO. I am not even likely to purchase the #HAIR token when it comes out unless I see some real upside in other related biotech area tokens. Nevertheless, it is great to finally see blockchain technology and the hair loss world finally intersecting.
Perhaps HairDAO can also be used for the popular “Group Buys” and new hair loss compound experimentation down the road?
Sooner or later, blockchain technology will become massive and much more than just cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. I remember how I got interested in Twitter in its earliest days and kept thinking that it held much greater potential. It took a decade before it really took off.
Super interesting! Maybe we could support researchers in China, Korea etc…more this way.
Pretty interesting. Time to create hair loss related NFTs and make bank, then you won’t care if you’re bald.
Not related to this post, but I am SHOCKED by the prices of minoxidil 5%. I have recently moved from Europe to Canada, where I would purchase minoxidil 5% for about 10e or less per bottle. I got to Canada and I have switched to Rogaine foam when I got here the price was around 90$. Then it went to 120$ now I go to Amazon 150$ !!!!
I got a different brand I think it is called GoodSense or smt..
The price is CRAZY!
It must be 3 bottles or cans, and still too high. Something is off.
Yes! 3 bottles package rogain.
Since the comment prices on amazon went up AGAIN!
NOW IT IS 174$
What is happening?
Some interesting updates (5 part Twitter thread):
https://twitter.com/HairDAO_/status/1769713153556783434
Followed them from the very beginning, I don’t understand the financials and the concept of a DAO at all, it‘s sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo and eventually it’s intransparent and sketchy. Honestly, it’s sounds like utter bullshit (Blockchain wtf). The Discord was toxic and confusing. The videos of them with Dr. Paus looked as if they took him hostage. The invested money (500 K in 2 years for 6 candidates) is probably not enough, guys.
But, and here’s the big BUT, their candidates and approaches are very alluring, and Dr. Paus is undoubtedly one of the great ones in hair research:
* TRH
* T3
* T4
All the above candidates are based on the famous 2008 research paper from Paus.
* Topical Dut – new formulation
* Twist-1 and 2i – protein target
* YAP-1i – scarless transplants
If you look at their website you‘ll find detailed infos on these candidates. If the website works properly, which it doesn’t always.
I root for them and I cannot rule out that they are the first ones that come up with a marketable solution thats better than anything available right now.
Admin, your opinion?
I am impressed with the diverse range of work that they are able to accomplish. It seems like they have found some very hard working and talented volunteers. And their interviews with Geoff Hamilton and Ralf Paus are very useful. I bet they will interview some major researchers this year, since they just attended WCHR2024.
I am not convinced about their shampoo, tokens etc… but I have only glanced through those subjects via their Tweets.
I only check out their Discord once a month or two. I feel old when I go in there lol!
The Thyroid and Twist work interests me. The Dutasteride delivery vehicle not at all since we already have Moogene Medi/Hutera as well as the possibly superior mesotherapy with Dutasteride.
https://x.com/HairDAO_/status/1820851592360575059
Comprehensive update from them…webshop goes online soon, including new topical Dut and T3…sounds great!
New video from their CTO:
https://youtu.be/JJNj4WOMj8A?si=tl90OJy9wfZcjbV4
Someone asked me to write a new post on HairDAO, primarily based on the below statement from their co-founder:
https://x.com/HairDAO_/status/1861564726490140762
I am very skeptical. Even for an effective cosmetic (which usually only means a best case Rogaine level result), a 1-year time-frame is really pushing it.
Having said that, HairDAO has their own lab now and are partnering with numerous scientists. They are doing a phenomenal job in getting industry experts to respond to their outreach efforts.
I‘m not on Twitter, what is this statement referring to?
Questioner: When do you guys think we can find ways to 100% effectively prevent hair loss in men? (or cure it).
HairDAO
1 year – with minimized side effects.
Let me guess (true story in short) … they actually mean research will find a new treatment in 1 year with the claim of 5 years more needed. Then we wait 15 years and they do trials and in the end they cancel the project or show results like 3 hairs gain in Phase 3 after 12 months. :-)
There’s many questions open with the HairDao, but they just opened a wet lab in New York, are okay funded and spearheaded by absolutely driven people. Plus Ralf Paus, the godfather of hair research as advisor.
I really don’t know how they bypass regular trials (TRH, T3, T4, Dut) and sell their stuff, but they seem to pull it off.
A possibly superior formulation of topical Dut (Dr. Tais Gratieri) plus T3/T4 could very well be close to a cure.
Here’s their newest study from November:
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/12/1524#
Topical Dutasteride.
Well would be nice if they could show a real status update and pipeline for T3 and T4. Also Ralf Paus is CEO of Cutaneon but there is also no pipeline for the mentioned CUT-2 and CUT-3 AGA treatments on the Cutaneon website.