6.9
/ 10
Best DeFi Strategy & Protocol Economics Advisors · Review
CryptoEconLab
CryptoEconLab is a cryptoeconomics consultancy that spun out of Protocol Labs in 2022, where it served as Filecoin's in-house economics team.
Best For
Infrastructure, DePIN and AI protocols that need quantitative mechanism design and simulation
Headline Cost
Design from $50,000 to $150,000+
Founded
2022
Rank in category
4 of 15
Last Checked
22 September 2026
Score breakdown
Category rubric →Published research and models · 25%
10.0
Client-confirmed work · 20%
5.7
Recent economics work · 20%
10.0
Conflict-of-interest disclosure · 15%
0.0
Named team · 10%
3.0
Transparent terms · 10%
10.0
A criterion with nothing published scores 0, so a low score often means missing evidence rather than poor work. The headline 6.9 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 code and models (GitHub CELtd, including the MechaFIL digital twin), an arXiv agent-based modelling paper, and client papers with simulators. | github.com ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Client-confirmed work · 20% | 5.7 | 7 named client case studies once Filecoin is set aside (it was CEL's in-house work at Protocol Labs before the 2022 spin-out, not a client engagement); 4 are confirmed by the client side: Revnet founder jango.eth on X, a Hellas article on its official X account, Secured Finance docs and the Palette Labs whitepaper listing CEL authors. | docs.secured.finance ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Recent economics work · 20% | 10.0 | Most recent dated economics work: cryptoeconomic analysis of Hellas, a trustless tensor compute network, published 19 February 2026. | cryptoeconlab.com ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Conflict-of-interest disclosure · 15% | 0.0 | No conflict-of-interest policy, independence statement or compensation disclosure was found on the site (about, services, FAQ and portfolio content checked). | cryptoeconlab.com ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Named team · 10% | 3.0 | The firm's site credits only 'CryptoEconLab Team'; researchers (Axel Cortes Cubero, Kiran Karra, Tom Mellan and others) are identifiable only via arXiv, FIP-0036 and a client whitepaper, and leadership roles are not stated. | arxiv.org ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
| Transparent terms · 10% | 10.0 | Describes design, audit and MiCA services, gives timelines of 4-6 weeks (basic) to 8-12 weeks (comprehensive), and states that design costs range from $50,000 to $150,000+. | cryptoeconlab.com ↗ | 22 September 2026 |
What we liked
- Open research output: arXiv paper (2307.15200), public GitHub repositories (CELtd/mechafil-jax and others) and interactive simulators
- Long, publicly documented track record in Filecoin governance (for example FIP-0036, which credits CEL modelling)
- Several clients confirm the work on their own channels (Hellas, Secured Finance docs, Palette Labs whitepaper)
Where it falls short
- The website names no team members; people can only be identified through third-party papers and client documents
- No conflict-of-interest policy or disclosure of how the firm is paid
- Much of the portfolio is concentrated in the Filecoin and Protocol Labs ecosystem
| # | 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 |