Marmot Researchers Turn to OnlyFans, Meme Coins for Funding

August 3, 2026 · Macro · CryptoRefuge Team

UCLA researchers have launched an OnlyFans account called OnlyMarms to support their marmot research project, which has been tracking yellow-bellied marmots in Colorado since 1962. The account has generated around $4,000, contributing to the project's annual funding needs of $75,000 to $100,000.

$4,000 has been generated by the OnlyMarms account, a significant contribution to the project's funding needs.

Led by professor Daniel Blumstein, the researchers turned to alternative funding methods after traditional research funding became harder to secure. The OnlyMarms account has attracted a different audience than typical science communication, with the project's social media presence gaining significant attention.

The emergence of meme coins inspired by the project may have a positive impact. People have independently created a meme coin and offered the researchers a chance to register it, potentially generating transaction fees.

"People have independently created a meme coin and told us to grab the transaction—to register it, and then we get the transaction fees. And that is blowing up. Apparently, this is a meme coin for good that people like." — Daniel Blumstein, professor, UCLA

The project's funding struggles reflect the broader challenges faced by scientific research in securing traditional funding. Blumstein expressed concerns about the impact of declining funding on the scientific structure and university-federal partnerships, stating that it is "appalling" and "being taken apart."

"No. It's appalling. What we're doing is destroying the scientific structure and the university-federal partnerships that made us great, made us rich, made us the scientific leaders of the world. It's being taken apart, and that's really sad." — Daniel Blumstein, professor, UCLA

Alternative funding methods, such as OnlyFans and meme coins, may become more prevalent as researchers explore new ways to support their projects. The success of the OnlyMarms account and the emergence of meme coins inspired by the project will be crucial in determining the viability of alternative funding methods for scientific research. Analysis: If the trend of using alternative funding methods continues, it could lead to a shift in the way research projects are supported, potentially creating new opportunities for scientists and researchers to secure funding. However, it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability and reliability of these methods.