The Hidden Crisis in TON DeFi: Why Major Protocols Are Invisible to AI

Imagine discovering that four of the top 12 protocols in your blockchain ecosystem—collectively managing over $35 million in total value locked (TVL)—simply don’t exist in the eyes of artificial intelligence. When users ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini about TON DeFi, these protocols might as well be ghosts.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s the stark reality facing the TON blockchain ecosystem today.

The Great Invisibility Crisis

Our comprehensive AI Visibility Index study, covering 20 protocols across 50+ tests in four global regions, has uncovered a critical blind spot that threatens the future growth of TON DeFi. While protocols like STON.fi and DeDust enjoy near-perfect AI visibility scores of 97.0 and 93.5 respectively, matching their #1 and #2 TVL positions, the story takes a dark turn further down the rankings.

Complete AI Visibility Rankings

_{AI Visibility Score ranges from 0-100, measuring frequency and quality of protocol mentions across ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini responses}

The “Ghost Protocols” phenomenon is real and devastating:

• Affluent: $11.76M TVL, #8 by size → 0% AI visibility
• UTONIC: $9.51M TVL, #9 by size → 0% AI visibility
• TONCO: $8.4M TVL, #10 by size → 0% AI visibility
• FIVA: $4.11M TVL, #11 by size → 0% AI visibility

These aren’t small experimental protocols. They’re major platforms with real users and substantial capital—but to AI systems that increasingly guide user discovery, they simply don’t exist.

The Stakee Paradox: When Success Means Invisibility

Perhaps the most striking example is Stakee, the ecosystem’s third-largest protocol by TVL at $24.99 million. Despite its massive user base and capital, it ranks only 11th in AI visibility with a modest 32.0 score. Why? Its Telegram Mini App format isn’t recognized by AI systems as “real DeFi”—a categorization problem that’s costing it countless potential users who discover protocols through AI-powered research.

The Infrastructure Illusion

Conversely, we discovered that AI systems systematically overvalue protocols with minimal TVL but strong technical narratives. Infrastructure-focused protocols like swap.coffee and TON Diamonds DEX—despite having no significant TVL—maintain respectable AI visibility scores of 35-45 points. This reveals a fundamental bias in AI training data toward technical innovation over actual user adoption and capital deployment.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

In 2025’s crypto landscape, AI-powered discovery is rapidly becoming the primary way users find and evaluate DeFi protocols. When someone asks “What are the best yield farming options on TON?” or “Which TON protocols should I use for staking?”, AI systems are increasingly their first stop—not DefiLlama charts or crypto Twitter.

This shift makes AI visibility not just a marketing nice-to-have, but an existential competitive advantage. Protocols that don’t appear in AI responses are losing the battle for user mindshare before potential users even know they exist.

The Global Perspective: Different Regions, Same Problem

Our research across the USA, CIS countries, Japan, and Brazil revealed fascinating regional differences in how AI systems perceive TON protocols:

• USA: AI responses focus on technological innovation and unique mechanics
• CIS: Preference for Russian-language content creates visibility gaps for English-first protocols
• Japan: Deep technical understanding but poor coverage of newer protocols
• Brazil: Strong interest in user-friendly yield farming, but limited protocol awareness

These regional variations suggest that protocols serious about global growth need region-specific AI visibility strategies, not one-size-fits-all approaches.

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The Root Causes: Why Good Protocols Stay Hidden

Our analysis identified four critical factors behind low AI visibility:

1. Content Drought Most protocols simply don’t create enough public content. Without regular articles in crypto media, minimal English-language presence, and weak social media activity, they remain invisible to the web crawlers that feed AI training data.

2. Positioning Problems Many protocols, especially in real-world assets (RWA) and complex derivatives, aren’t clearly categorized as “DeFi” in AI systems. Complex terminology and technical jargon create barriers that prevent AI from understanding what these protocols actually do.

3. Regional Tunnel Vision Protocols focused exclusively on Russian-speaking or local audiences miss the global English content that dominates AI training datasets. This regional focus, while valuable for user acquisition, creates AI blind spots.

4. Technical Communication Gaps Too many protocols explain their complex technical features without translating them into clear user benefits. AI systems struggle to understand and recommend protocols when they can’t parse what value they provide to users.

The Path Forward: Strategic Recommendations

The good news? AI visibility is fixable with focused effort. Here’s our comprehensive action plan:

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS (30 Days)

Content Blitz

• 5+ articles in top crypto media immediately
• Mandatory creation of Wikipedia pages – Critical for AI training data inclusion
• “First mention” strategy – Focus on quick wins that get protocols into AI knowledge bases

Clear Positioning

• Categorical definitions: Establish clear descriptors like “Leading TON lending,” “Premier liquid staking,” “TON yield farming leader”
• DeFiLlama listing optimization – Ensure proper categorization and descriptions
• Integration announcements with known protocols for credibility association

Influencer Outreach

• KOL mentions on Twitter/X for immediate visibility boost
• Podcast appearances on crypto shows (Bankless, Unchained, etc.)
• Public AMAs in popular TON channels and communities

FOUNDATION BUILDING (90 Days)

Educational Content Hub

• Create comprehensive TON DeFi guides – Position protocols as ecosystem leaders
• Video tutorials and explainer materials – Make complex protocols accessible
• Regular AMAs and community calls – Build consistent content stream

Developer Relations

• Technical documentation and APIs – Become go-to resources for developers
• Integration guides for other projects – Foster ecosystem interconnectedness
• Hackathon sponsorship – Associate with innovation and development

Global Expansion

• English content and community management – Break out of regional silos
• Participation in international crypto events – Build global presence
• Partnerships with global influencers – Access wider audiences

LONG-TERM STRATEGY (6+ Months)

AI Training Data Optimization

• Systematic creation of high-quality content – Focus on evergreen, discoverable materials
• Wikipedia presence and maintenance – Ongoing commitment to accurate information
• Academic papers and research citations – Build scholarly credibility

Ecosystem Integration

• Deep integration with TON ecosystem – Become indispensable infrastructure
• Collaboration with TON Foundation – Align with ecosystem development priorities
• Cross-protocol liquidity strategies – Create network effects and mention opportunities

The Competitive Advantage of Early Action

The protocols that act first to address their AI visibility will gain disproportionate advantages. As AI-powered discovery becomes more prevalent, early movers will capture mindshare that becomes increasingly difficult to displace.

STON.fi and DeDust didn’t achieve their near-perfect AI visibility scores by accident—they’ve consistently created content, engaged with global communities, and positioned themselves clearly in the market. Their success provides a roadmap for others to follow.

Conclusion: The Future is AI-Aware

The TON DeFi ecosystem stands at a crossroads. Protocols can continue operating in AI blind spots, hoping users will discover them through traditional channels, or they can proactively build the visibility infrastructure needed to thrive in an AI-first discovery environment.

The data is clear: in 2025’s competitive landscape, if you’re not visible to AI, you’re not visible to the next generation of DeFi users. The question isn’t whether protocols should invest in AI visibility—it’s whether they can afford not to.

The ghost protocols of today’s study don’t have to remain invisible forever. But the window for action is narrowing, and the protocols that move first will set the standard for what success looks like in the age of AI-driven DeFi discovery.

This analysis is based on comprehensive research conducted in July 2025, examining 20 TON protocols across 50+ tests in four global regions. The AI Visibility Index methodology measures protocol presence across ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini responses using standardized queries and scoring criteria.