DeSci health startup CUDIS to launch native token on Solana

The web3 AI wellness firm CUDIS is beefing up its blockchain-based health data ecosystem with the launch of a Solana-based token, CUDIS. 

The Los Angeles-based startup develops a wellness ring that tracks the wearer's health data — including steps, sleep, and heart rate — and a personalized fitness program powered by AI. The Solana-based platform will now reward those who wear the hardware device and use the AI fitness coach with CUDIS tokens.

CUDIS' token furthers its experiment with decentralizing health by giving users a say in protocol governance and greater control over their personal health data. CUDIS is part of the nascent world of decentralized science , a.k.a. "DeSci," a field aiming to contribute to the scientific process by expanding access to research and funding as well as reducing reliance on centralized institutions.

"The TGE is a new starting point for CUDIS," co-founder and CEO Edison Chen told The Block in an email. "We hope the CUDIS token brings more energy and fun to our community, and helps make our vision of longevity accessible to people around the world."

CUDIS plans to issue additional airdrops after this initial token generation event (TGE) to reward long-term users and continued engagement with the brand's wider ecosystem. Registration for "Season 1" token airdrop eligibility begins on June 5. The token's total supply will be capped at 1 billion, and 50 million CUDIS tokens will be dispersed at the upcoming airdrop, according to a press release shared with The Block. CUDIS's token will also be available on the cryptocurrency exchanges Bybit and Bitget . 

Since launching in May 2024, CUDIS claims to have sold over 20,000 rings and onboarded over 200,000 users, according to the release. The app has also "processed billions of biometric signals." CUDIS has integrated the World App , a network for proving one's humanity online, to help verify a user's biometric data and self-custody their onchain health data.

CUDIS raised $5 million in seed funding in a round led by Tim Draper's early-stage venture firm Draper Associates last September. 

Solana is increasingly the blockchain of choice for projects seeking to launch a native token, such as the NFT brand Doodles . The blockchain is also a growing hub for "consumer crypto," or projects that tap the blockchain stack to provide real-world utility for everyday users, like CUDIS.