Should You Buy THORChain in 2025?

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At HelloSafe, our expert has been closely monitoring the performance of the cryptocurrency THORChain for over three years. Each month, hundreds of thousands of users across the UK rely on us to analyse market trends and identify the most promising investment opportunities. Our analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical guidelines, HelloSafe has never purchased THORChain or received any compensation from entities linked to its ecosystem.

THORChain in brief

How much does 1 THORChain cost?

The price of THORChain is up this week. RUNE is currently trading at £1.26, with a 3.22% gain over the past 24 hours and a 0.7% weekly uptick. Market capitalisation now stands at approximately £443 million, with an average 3-month daily trading volume equivalent to £98.7 million. THORChain ranks #106 by market cap, with 351.44 million RUNE in circulation, representing about 0.035% of the total crypto market. As with most digital assets, THORChain’s volatility offers both risks and unique investment opportunities to consider.

Our full review of the cryptocurrency THORChain

Have recent multi-chain innovations and shifting liquidity flows put THORChain back in the spotlight? We have conducted a comprehensive review of THORChain’s latest trends and its 3-year trajectory, combining on-chain indicators, technical signals, market data, and competitive intelligence through our proprietary algorithms. So, why could THORChain again stand out as a strategic entry point in decentralized finance for 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Recent Price Evolution

THORChain (RUNE) has delivered a period marked by heightened activity and robust recovery despite significant market headwinds. As of June 2025, RUNE trades at $1.61 USD, ranking #106 by market cap ($566.3m) and maintaining positioning among the top decentralized finance assets. Over the past year, RUNE has appreciated by 73.4%, with a 6-month gain of 24.8%—outpacing several comparable DeFi protocols in relative recovery. The 24-hour trading volume remains notably high at $126.06 million, reflecting enduring market interest and liquidity.

Notably, despite a sharp TVL contraction in Q1 2025—from $329 million to $145.26 million—overall protocol volume hit $19.62 billion for the quarter. This divergence (high volume vs. TVL decline) underlines THORChain’s agility and adoption in volatile conditions, even as the ecosystem steered through substantial restructuring.

Positive Recent Events

• The complete integration of XRP, further cementing THORChain’s cross-chain narrative and technical appeal.
• Strategic rollout of THORChain Yield (TCY) to resolve debt from a $200 million crisis, demonstrating the resilience and decisiveness of protocol governance.
• Institutional-grade adoption with Ledger Live integration, making secure cross-chain swaps natively accessible to broad user bases.
• Accelerated development of v3.6.0, promising enhanced network stability and efficiency.

Macro and Sectoral Tailwinds

The broader crypto sector has turned cautiously optimistic post-2024, buoyed by tailwinds such as:

• Growing institutional exposure to DeFi, particularly for protocols focused on native asset swaps.
• Renewed appetite for non-custodial and multi-chain solutions amid regulatory unpredictability for centralised entities.
• A rotation of capital into protocols positioned for interoperability and bridging, of which THORChain is a dominant pioneer.

The structural narrative for protocols enabling permissionless, cross-chain swaps—without wrapped assets—continues to strengthen, lending long-term thematic support to RUNE.

Technical Analysis

Key On-chain Indicators

• RSI (14-day): At 41.23, the RSI reveals a neutral but stabilising price action, suggesting reduced risk of near-term overheated selloffs and room for medium-term appreciation.
• MACD: Currently flashing a sell signal, indicating a recently completed correction phase but also the potential for a reversal; historical precedents in similar setups point to sharp uptrends following MACD flips in prior years.
• Moving Averages: The 50-day moving average remains above the 200-day, a classic bullish “golden cross” formation that hints at constructive undercurrents and a likely pivot towards bullish momentum.

Support and Resistance Mapping

• Major support sits in the $1.56 zone, consistently defended during recent downturns.
• Immediate resistance at $1.66, with the next upside checkpoint at $2.09—aligning with consensus analyst price targets.
• The all-time high is far above at $20.87 (May 2021), framing considerable upside potential for medium/long-term reversion if sectoral capital rotation endures.

Structural and Momentum Takeaways

• Recent price behaviour displays higher lows on major charts, signalling accumulation.
• Volume profile analysis highlights sustained market engagement, often a precursor to breakout volatility.

Taken together, technical signals indicate a market in consolidation, with setups developing for a new bullish leg should macro and on-chain triggers align.

Fundamental Analysis

Adoption, Partnerships, and Ecosystem Growth

• THORChain supports swaps across 9 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Avalanche, showcasing true multi-chain reach unmatched by most rivals.
• The XRP integration notably widens accessible markets and liquidity pools.
• Partnerships with leading platforms (Ledger, major CEX/DEX) drive institutional validation and user onboarding.
• The community remains highly active and adaptive, evidenced by rapid governance responses during Q1’s network restructuring.

Relative Valuation

• Despite the Q1 TVL shock, protocol market cap ($566m) versus current TVL ($145m) remains attractive for value investors—especially as historical TVL-to-market-cap ratios suggest significant room for mean reversion.
• The all-time high ($20.87) and discount of over 92% from this peak further reinforce the asymmetric reward/risk profile when compared to overhyped protocols with less technical differentiation.

Structural Strengths, Technological Innovation, and Differentiation

• THORChain’s slip-based fee system helps mitigate impermanent loss, an issue plaguing many AMM competitors.
• Deterministic swap ordering efficiently counters MEV (miner extractable value) exploits, a sophisticated technological moat.
• Pioneering streaming swaps support very large transaction sizes, targeting institutional-grade and whale user flows.

Volume, Liquidity, and Market Positioning

• High average daily trading volume ($126m) outpaces volumes for comparably capitalised DeFi projects and signals robust market trust.
• The RUNE token is easily accessible across global exchanges, with Binance driving primary volume and THORSwap offering non-custodial access.
• Circulating supply (351.44m RUNE, with a max of 500m) is transparent and manageable, reducing concerns around inflation or supply shocks.

THORChain’s design and operational model are uniquely positioned in the DeFi vertical, both in its cross-chain DNA and technical defences against key industry risks.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

• v3.6.0 upgrade scheduled for H2 2025 promises broader integration, improved stability, and scaling.
• Continued extension into new blockchains and institutional markets is likely as cross-chain DeFi demand surges.
• Regulatory de-risking and greater compliance tooling—spurred by network restructuring—could attract conservative capital.
• The probable rebound in TVL after a period of stabilisation could act as a visible signal for further decentralised capital inflows.

Investment Strategies According to Horizon

Short-Term (3–12 months)

• Technical charts suggest that entries near the $1.56–$1.61 support zone appear primed for efficient risk/reward, especially given the anticipated momentum return after the latest consolidation phase.
• Those looking for a tactical position may consider buying ahead of the v3.6.0 release or on news of further institutional integrations.
• Momentum-based trading could target the $2.09 resistance zone for initial upside.

Medium-Term (1–3 years)

• THORChain is transitioning out of a major underperformance zone and into relative strength territory, especially as sector capital rotates to interoperability solutions.
• As DeFi regains global risk appetite and on-chain swaps gain further adoption, RUNE’s unique interoperability narrative could see catching up—offering strong re-rating potential.
• Accumulating on technical dips or in tandem with protocol milestones remains a sensible strategy given reduced on-chain downside volatility relative to peers.

Long-Term (3+ years)

• THORChain remains at the heart of a multi-year crypto macro trend: non-custodial, cross-chain finance.
• Persistent expanding integrations, protocol upgrades, and proven resilience through governance stress-tests mean the core value proposition is unlikely to become obsolete.
• For long-horizon investors, RUNE stands as a core “picks-and-shovels” play on the future of permissionless liquidity and cross-chain DeFi.

Maintaining exposure over the long cycle allows for participation in both systemic DeFi growth and likely periodic re-ratings triggered by sector rotations.

Entry Timing

• Historically, major dips following macro or project-specific shocks (such as Q1 2025 restructuring) have offered high-conviction buying windows.
• New cycle entries on confirmed reversals, bullish MACD flips, or protocol upgrade announcements seem to represent an excellent opportunity for outperformance, balancing valuation with upside optionality.

Projected THORChain Price Evolution (2025-2029)

Is This the Right Time to Consider Buying THORChain?

THORChain currently enjoys a convergence of strengths that justify renewed interest from sophisticated investors:

• An architecture at the crossroads of the two fastest-growing narratives in crypto—cross-chain finance and institutional-grade DeFi.
• A robust recovery from significant restructuring adversity, underpinned by decisive governance, transparent crisis management, and credible market traction.
• Adoption by leading wallets and exchanges, alongside technical superiority—slippage mitigation, MEV defences, and streaming swaps—offer true differentiation.
• Aggressive expansion of supported chains and integrations continue to expand total addressable liquidity and user base.
• Projected price evolution for 2025–2029 signals a strong upside asymmetry, supported by both technical and fundamental drivers.

Given its current technical consolidation, attractive valuation, high liquidity, and upcoming protocol advancements, THORChain could well be entering a new bullish phase in its evolution. For investors seeking exposure to the next generation of decentralised, cross-chain infrastructure, the community-led resurgence and rapidly evolving product suite make THORChain an asset that seems to represent an excellent opportunity at present levels.

THORChain remains a high-volatility cryptocurrency that offers dynamic investment potential, with robust risk management essential. Its recent price acceleration underscores THORChain’s capability for rapid, powerful moves—yet evolving macro conditions and ongoing protocol upgrades necessitate selective, well-researched engagement. Key technical levels to monitor remain $1.56 (immediate support) and $2.09 (major resistance), with the scheduled v3.6.0 upgrade in H2 2025 poised as a pivotal potential catalyst.

How to buy THORChain?

It is both simple and secure to buy THORChain (RUNE) online from the UK, provided you use a well-regulated crypto platform. Investors can choose between two main routes: direct spot purchase, which gives you real ownership of RUNE in your wallet, or trading RUNE via crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which allows you to speculate on price movements without holding the asset itself. Each method suits different profiles and risk appetites. To help you select the right exchange, a detailed platform comparison is available lower down this page.

Spot Purchase

When you buy THORChain on the spot market, you acquire actual RUNE tokens that are stored in your exchange or personal wallet. This method provides direct ownership and lets you transfer, spend, or hold your coins as you wish. Most UK exchanges typically charge a fixed commission, usually around 0.1%–0.25% per transaction, plus possible minimal deposit or withdrawal fees in GBP.

Example

If RUNE’s price is $1.61 (about £1.25 as of June 2025), a £1,000 investment enables you to purchase roughly 800 RUNE coins (after applying a £2 fixed fee). If the price of RUNE rises by 10%, your coins are now worth £1,100—representing a £100 gain (+10%) before fees and taxes.

Trading via CFD

CFD trading on THORChain enables you to open leveraged positions on RUNE's price, without actually owning any cryptocurrency. Instead, you’re speculating on whether RUNE will rise or fall. You pay a spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and, if you keep positions open overnight, additional financing costs.

Example

With £1,000 and 5x leverage, you open a RUNE CFD position worth £5,000. Should RUNE’s price increase by 8%, your position generates a 40% gain (8% × 5), for a gross profit of £400 before fees and funding charges. Remember: leverage amplifies both gains and losses, so risk management is essential.

Final Guidance

Whichever method you choose, always review the fees, security features, and trading conditions of each exchange—costs and terms can vary considerably. Ultimately, your decision should reflect your own investment experience, risk tolerance, and whether you prefer to own RUNE outright or simply trade on its price movements. For a head-to-head comparison of regulated platforms available to UK investors, see our up-to-date exchange comparator below.

Our 7 tips for buying THORChain

The latest news from THORChain

THORChain's RUNE token records a 0.7% increase and bullish indicators, fueled by network stability and recovery. Over the last week, RUNE has seen a modest price appreciation of 0.7% and trades at $1.61, capitalizing on a positive shift in technical sentiment after a turbulent first quarter. Technical indicators now show the 50-day moving average crossing above the 200-day mark, suggesting underlying market optimism, while the RSI at 41.23 reflects a neutral outlook. The maintenance of high daily trading volumes and recent stabilization of the protocol after earlier challenges further reinforce market confidence, positioning RUNE for potential appreciation in the medium term.

THORChain completed integration of XRP and partnered with Ledger Live, growing UK institutions' interest in cross-chain DeFi. Recently finalized, the integration of XRP into THORChain’s protocol strengthens its multichain appeal, allowing for seamless native asset swaps across nine major blockchains. Furthermore, the partnership with Ledger Live—widely used by UK institutional and retail investors—enhances the secure accessibility of cross-chain swaps. This positions THORChain as a significant facilitator in the rapidly growing cross-chain DeFi sector, which is gaining attention among UK finance professionals seeking compliant, efficient access to multichain liquidity.

Protocol restructuring and introduction of THORChain Yield tokens successfully managed a $200 million debt crisis, ensuring platform resilience. In the first quarter of 2025, THORChain underwent major restructuring to address a substantial $200 million protocol debt, introducing the THORChain Yield (TCY) token to restructure liabilities, and temporarily pausing THORFi services. Decentralized community governance demonstrated effective crisis management, quickly implementing reforms and restoring user confidence. The UK crypto community, known for scrutinizing DeFi resilience, has responded positively to THORChain's transparent recovery approach and adherence to best practices in protocol governance.

Ongoing v3.6.0 network upgrade underpins optimism, focused on advanced stability and multichain user experience improvements. Development of version 3.6.0 continues to progress, aiming to enhance network reliability and further facilitate efficient multichain swaps without the need for wrapped assets or bridges. The UK’s active DeFi user base and professional crypto traders are poised to benefit from such innovation, reducing exposure to bridge-related risks that have been a regulatory and security concern in the region. The protocol’s leadership in implementing slip-based fees and deterministic swap ordering continues to set benchmarks in user protections, aligning with regulatory priorities in the UK.

THORChain remains accessible on UK-friendly exchanges, with regulated tax compliance and steady adoption growth among British users. RUNE maintains strong availability on major global platforms accessible to UK investors, such as Binance and KuCoin, as well as THORSwap. The protocol’s architecture allows seamless adherence to local crypto tax policies, supporting institutional due diligence requirements. Despite previous volatility in TVL, renewed stability and strategic expansion reinforce THORChain’s appeal to the UK market, particularly as financial professionals actively seek compliant, innovative DeFi solutions that offer transparent governance and robust technological infrastructure.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.