Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are increasingly abandoning public Discord servers, citing the platform's growing liability and diminishing role as a community hub.
This trend gained significant attention on Wednesday when the DeFi lending protocol Morpho announced it had moved its public Discord server to read-only mode, redirecting users to alternative support channels. This decision reflects mounting concerns that Discord has become a primary hunting ground for scammers targeting cryptocurrency users.
The apprehension is not isolated to Morpho. The pseudonymous founder of DeFi data platform DefiLlama, 0xngmi, stated that they have been gradually reducing their reliance on Discord, opting instead for more controlled communication tools.
Several developers indicate a strategic shift away from constant chat room engagement towards structured support systems designed to prioritize user protection over maximizing engagement.
Why DeFi Teams Are Stepping Back From Discord
A primary concern voiced by developers and data providers is the increasing difficulty in securing Discord servers, with phishing remaining a persistent problem.
Morpho co-founder Merlin Egalite explained that the decision to move away from Discord was "not an easy choice." However, he noted that users were being targeted with phishing attempts even while seeking assistance, despite extensive monitoring and implemented safeguards.
Morpho has been evaluating tools like Intercom, which Egalite believes enhances support through features such as ticket management and AI-powered responses.
Similar concerns were echoed by 0xngmi. The DefiLlama founder elaborated that their platform transitioned to live support chat and email ticketing systems, arguing that Discord fundamentally hinders user protection.
“Even if you ban scammers instantly, they still DM users directly to scam them,” 0xngmi stated.
Community Leaders Rally Behind Discord Exit
Industry professionals and community members have also shared their perspectives on the matter. Richard Rodairos, a talent partner at Dragonfly, described public Discord servers as having become "one of the lowest signal surfaces in the space."
He contended that users and developers would benefit more from accessible documentation, asynchronous support, and reliable communication channels. Rodairos advised, "Get rid of most discords in crypto. It would actually do the industry good long term."
Marc Zeller, founder of the Aavechan Initiative, asserted that Discord is "full of scammers," adding that users seeking information are frequently targeted by impersonators posing as administrators. He commended Morpho's decision and encouraged Aave Labs to consider a similar withdrawal from the social platform.
Duncan Cock Foster, co-founder of Nifty Gateway, shared that moderating Discord was the most challenging aspect of running his previous company and significantly impacted his mental well-being. He characterized Morpho's move as "smart."
Not Everyone Wants to Leave Discord Behind
While a segment of the community perceives limited advantages to using Discord, others argue that abandoning the platform risks undermining one of the sector's most distinctive attributes: open, peer-to-peer collaboration.
X user Llamaonthebrink expressed that a key appeal of DeFi was the ability to "pop into a project’s Discord" to share experiences, offer feedback, and follow development discussions. This community member conveyed hope that the trend of exiting Discord would not become widespread.
Conversely, some believe the issue lies in implementation rather than the platform itself. X user nft_dreww argued that all platforms are susceptible to scammers and that well-managed Discord servers with robust security measures can maintain a safe and active environment.
A similar sentiment was shared by X user Walter_Su11ivan, who suggested that abandoning Discord reflects a deficiency in platform management skills. He pointed out that numerous projects continue to successfully operate healthy and well-moderated communities on the platform.