6.0
/ 10
Best DeFi Strategy & Protocol Economics Advisors · Review
BlockScience
BlockScience is a complex systems engineering and research firm founded by Michael Zargham and known for cadCAD, an open-source simulation framework for modelling token economies.
Best For
Protocols that want simulation-based, research-grade mechanism and governance analysis
Headline Cost
Not published
Founded
2017
Rank in category
6 of 15
Last Checked
22 September 2026
Score breakdown
Category rubric →Published research and models · 25%
10.0
Client-confirmed work · 20%
8.0
Recent economics work · 20%
3.0
Conflict-of-interest disclosure · 15%
0.0
Named team · 10%
8.0
Transparent terms · 10%
5.0
A criterion with nothing published scores 0, so a low score often means missing evidence rather than poor work. The headline 6.0 is the weighted mean of these marks — see our methodology. Not financial advice.
The evidence behind each mark
Scoring rules →| Criterion | Mark | What we found | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published research and models · 25% | 10.0 | Publishes open simulation models and notebooks (cadCAD models for Reflexer, Filecoin, Aztec, Stellar NQG) on GitHub, plus papers archived on Zenodo. | github.com ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Client-confirmed work · 20% | 8.0 | Of five named crypto clients (Gitcoin, Reflexer, Aztec, Stellar Community Fund, Filecoin), four are confirmed by the client: Aztec blog 2023, Gitcoin governance forum 2021, Stellar Community Medium 2026 and Reflexer's own Medium publication; Filecoin Foundation funding is stated only by BlockScience. | aztec.network ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Recent economics work · 20% | 3.0 | Most recent dated economics work: Expert Service Provider Network programme design position paper for Arbitrum DAO, published 20 March 2024. | blog.block.science ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Conflict-of-interest disclosure · 15% | 0.0 | No conflict-of-interest policy or token-compensation disclosure found on block.science, the about page or the blog; only client-side framing (Aztec called it 'independent third-party analysis'). | blog.block.science ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Named team · 10% | 8.0 | Founder and Chief Engineer Michael Zargham and several researchers (Jamsheed Shorish, Eric Alston, Kelsie Nabben) are named in newsletters; no dedicated team page with profile links was found. | blog.block.science ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Transparent terms · 10% | 5.0 | The about page lists service types (systems engineering, R&D, validation, analytics, consulting) but gives no engagement formats, timelines or prices. | blog.block.science ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
What we liked
- Open models and simulation code published on GitHub (cadCAD models for Reflexer, Filecoin, Aztec, Pocket, The Graph, Stellar NQG)
- Several engagements confirmed by the clients themselves (Aztec blog, Gitcoin governance forum, Stellar Community Fund, Reflexer Medium)
- Leadership with an academic engineering background and peer-reviewed publications
Where it falls short
- No token-economics engagements found in 2025-2026; public focus has moved to governance and AI
- No published conflict-of-interest policy or disclosure of token compensation
- No published engagement formats, timelines or pricing
| # | Service | Best for | Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gauntlet | Lending and DEX protocols needing parameter and incentive optimization | Not published as a price list; the Compound contract was $2.3M per year in DAO proposals | 8.6 |
| 2 | LlamaRisk | Large lending protocols and stablecoin issuers that need a risk framework, parameter design and oracle-based risk automation | Not published as a price list; Aave renewal priced at $3.5M for one year (GHO plus 5,000 AAVE) | 7.6 |
| 3 | Tokenomics.net | Early-stage founders who want a fixed-price, fully documented token model before a raise | Data Room tiers $15,000, $20,000 and $25,000 | 7.1 |
| 4 | CryptoEconLab | Infrastructure, DePIN and AI protocols that need quantitative mechanism design and simulation | Design from $50,000 to $150,000+ | 6.9 |
| 5 | FinDaS | Early-stage teams that want a fixed-price token design or audit with an optional simulation model | Design $24,000 cash, or cash plus 0.5–1% of supply | 6.3 |
| 6 | BlockScience | Protocols that want simulation-based, research-grade mechanism and governance analysis | Not published | 6.0 |
| 7 | 8Blocks | Pre-TGE teams and Web2 or RWA businesses that want a token model or audit tied to business revenue | Workshop $2,500; Clutch lists $5,000+ minimum and $200-300/hr | 5.7 |
| 8 | Simplicity Group | Early-stage projects with modest budgets that want token design and GTM support from one vendor | Tokenomics from $5,000 | 5.6 |
| 9 | Chainrisk | Lending and perpetuals protocols that need a simulation-based economic audit of collateral, liquidation and interest rate parameters | Not published on the website; Compound forum proposals quoted a 90,000 USDC three-month pilot and a 500,000 USD annual retainer | 5.4 |
| 10 | Three Sigma | DeFi protocols that want a code audit and an economic or parameter review from the same vendor | Not published | 5.3 |
| 11 | Nethermind | Protocols wanting tokenomics analysis from a large engineering and security firm | Not published | 5.2 |
| 12 | Block Analitica | Lending and stablecoin protocols that need ongoing collateral risk parameters and monitoring rather than a one-off token design | Not published | 5.2 |
| 13 | Forgd | VC-backed projects preparing a TGE that want tokenomics, market maker and listing work from one provider | Cash and tokens; no cash price published | 4.0 |
| 14 | Delphi Consulting | Larger projects that want token advisory backed by a large research desk and are comfortable with a group that also invests | Not published | 3.8 |
| 15 | Blockphrase | Projects in India or the UAE that want token design combined with development and compliance work from one vendor | Not published | 2.4 |