Unlocking DeFi Utility on TON: Vlad from EVAA Protocol on Building Sustainable Finance within the Telegram Ecosystem

From TradFi to TON: Vlad’s DeFi Origin Story

Before EVAA, Vlad worked in traditional banking. His pivot to DeFi came not through theory, but by building. He entered the TON ecosystem in early 2023 through a hackathon, where the first version of EVAA was born. Backed by TON Ventures and FriendsDAO, it quickly grew into the primary lending protocol on TON.

What began as a side project soon attracted serious attention—and capital.

TON’s Unique User Challenge: Web2 Meets Web3

Unlike Ethereum or Solana, where users are often crypto-native, TON’s community largely originates from Telegram. This presents a double-edged sword: massive user volume, but little DeFi education.

🧠 “You’re not just onboarding users,” Vlad says. “You’re onboarding habits.”

EVAA’s mission includes building intuitive DeFi tools and educating users on how to borrow, lend, and stake responsibly—without overwhelming them with jargon.

TON's Evolving Ecosystem and the Rise of Native Assets

Telegram’s backing has turbocharged the TON ecosystem. As Vlad explains, TON has shifted from niche experiments to mainstream on-chain engagement.

One catalyst? The rise of native tokens like NotCoin, which helped grow EVAA’s Total Value Locked (TVL) and introduced new users to real DeFi mechanics.

“TON’s user base is now interacting with DeFi in ways that are practical, not speculative,” Vlad notes.

What’s Next: Liquid Staking, TGBTC, and More

EVAA isn’t stopping at lending. The roadmap includes:

• Liquid staking to increase capital efficiency.
• TGBTC: a native Bitcoin bridge enabling BTC exposure within the TON ecosystem.
• Athena: an upcoming product designed to offer more composability to DeFi users.
• Layer zero integrations to expand TVL and connect with other ecosystems.

With these developments, EVAA aims to provide foundational DeFi tools that are scalable, sustainable, and easy to adopt for Telegram’s massive audience.

The Road to Token Launch (Q1 2025)

Vlad also revealed EVAA’s upcoming token launch set for Q1 2025, with a focus on engaging Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to help expand awareness. It’s a strategic move, designed to bridge the gap between TON-native users and the broader DeFi world.

For founders and builders, Vlad’s approach offers a masterclass in patience, product-market fit, and user-focused growth.

Key Takeaways

Building DeFi on Telegram-native platforms requires radical simplicity and education.
Sustainable growth > hype. TVL is important, but user retention is key.
TON is evolving quickly—with serious backing and new primitives like TGBTC, the opportunity is just beginning.

Connect with EVAA Protocol & Vlad

• Website: evaa.finance
• Twitter: @evaaprotocol | @vld_kms
• LinkedIn: EVAA Protocol | Vlad Kamyshov

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