THORChain: Decentralized Cross-Chain Liquidity Protocol

THORChain is a decentralized liquidity protocol that enables users to swap native assets across different blockchains — without wrapping, bridging, or relying on centralized exchanges. It’s one of the first protocols to offer true cross-chain trading in a fully non-custodial, permissionless, and decentralized way.

Built using the Cosmos SDK, THORChain operates a unique network of nodes that coordinate cross-chain transactions, ensuring users can swap assets like BTC for ETH, or BNB for AVAX, while maintaining complete ownership of their assets at all times.

Key Features of THORChain:

Native Asset Swaps
Swap real BTC, ETH, BNB, LTC, and more — not wrapped tokens.

No Bridges or Custodians
Avoid the security risks of third-party bridges and centralized custodians.

Earn Yield on Native Assets
Provide liquidity with assets like BTC or ETH and earn yield directly.

Multi-Chain Liquidity Pools
Pools span across chains, helping provide deep, unified liquidity.

Non-Custodial & Permissionless
Users retain full control of their funds—no KYC or accounts required.

The RUNE Token:

RUNE is the native token of the THORChain ecosystem. It serves multiple purposes:

Liquidity Pairing: Every pool is paired with RUNE, enabling seamless routing.

Security: Node operators bond RUNE, incentivizing honest behavior.

Governance & Fees: Used for voting and paying transaction fees.

RUNE is essential to the protocol’s design and acts as the economic engine behind the network.

Why Use THORChain?

Cross-Chain Swaps Made Simple: Trade BTC ↔ ETH ↔ BNB in one transaction

Self-Custody First: No need to give up control of your crypto

Passive Income: Earn native yield on native assets

High Security: Byzantine fault-tolerant network of rotating nodes

Whether you're a trader, yield farmer, or long-term crypto holder, THORChain offers a truly decentralized and secure way to interact across blockchain ecosystems. It removes the friction of wrapped tokens and bridges while empowering users with control and composability.