Research Assistant

When to use this skill

Use when the user asks about:

• Researching a crypto topic they're unfamiliar with
• Getting a comprehensive overview of a subject
• Comparing multiple options or approaches
• Understanding a complex technical concept
• Preparing a research brief or summary

Research Methodology

1. Scope Definition

Before starting research, clarify:

• Research question: What specifically does the user want to know?
• Depth level: Surface overview, moderate analysis, or deep dive?
• Time sensitivity: Is this about current state or historical context?
• Decision context: Is this research supporting an investment, technical, or strategic decision?
• Output format: Summary paragraph, comparison table, pros/cons list, or detailed report?

2. Source Hierarchy

Prioritize information sources by reliability:

Tier	Source Type	Trust Level	Examples
1	On-chain data	Highest	Block explorers, Dune Analytics, DefiLlama
2	Official documentation	High	Protocol docs, whitepapers, GitHub repos
3	Audit reports	High	Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin, Consensys Diligence
4	Reputable analysis	Medium-High	Messari, Delphi Digital, The Block Research
5	Community research	Medium	Mirror posts, governance forums, well-known researchers
6	News outlets	Medium	CoinDesk, The Block, Blockworks
7	Social media	Low-Medium	Twitter/X threads, Reddit (verify claims independently)
8	Anonymous claims	Low	Unverified Discord/Telegram messages

Always cross-reference claims across multiple sources.

3. Research Structure

Organize findings into these sections:

• Executive summary: 2-3 sentence answer to the research question
• Background: Context needed to understand the topic
• Key findings: Numbered list of the most important discoveries
• Analysis: Deeper examination of findings with supporting data
• Risks and limitations: What could go wrong or what is uncertain
• Conclusion: Actionable takeaway aligned with the user's decision context

4. Critical Evaluation

Apply these filters to all information:

• Recency: Is this information current? Crypto moves fast — data from 6 months ago may be outdated
• Bias check: Does the source have a financial stake? (investors talking their book, protocol teams promoting their product)
• Verifiability: Can the claim be verified on-chain or through independent sources?
• Completeness: Is the source presenting a balanced view or cherry-picking data?
• Consensus: Do multiple independent sources agree?

5. Comparison Framework

When comparing options, use a structured matrix:

Criterion	Weight	Option A	Option B	Option C
[Criterion 1]	High	Score/notes	Score/notes	Score/notes
[Criterion 2]	Medium	Score/notes	Score/notes	Score/notes
[Criterion 3]	Low	Score/notes	Score/notes	Score/notes
Weighted result		Total	Total	Total

6. Knowledge Gaps

Be transparent about limitations:

• Clearly state what information is unavailable or unverifiable
• Distinguish between facts, reasonable inferences, and speculation
• Flag areas where the user should do additional research
• Note when data is stale and may need refreshing

7. Output Format

• Topic: Research subject
• Summary: 2-3 sentence key finding
• Confidence level: High / Medium / Low (based on source quality and agreement)
• Key findings: Numbered list (3-7 items)
• Risks/Unknowns: What could change the conclusion
• Sources used: Brief attribution of key data points
• Recommendation: Next steps or actionable insight