Sure, I’m not against crowdfunding research, as long as there is a clear reason for it. For example, too much budget directed to covid is hurting other perfectly valid areas? Fine. Or, someone has a perfectly good research plan, but failed to compete in the usual arena? Fine, too. But there is also a big potential for pseudo-science to be funded in this manner if it’s not 100% clear why. Especially if the reasons sound somewhat like conspiracy theories.
