Should You Buy THORChain in 2025?

THORChain in brief

How much does 1 THORChain cost?

The price of THORChain is up this week. As of now, THORChain is trading at CA$10.72, with a 24-hour change of +2.8% and a 7-day growth of +6.3%. Its current market capitalization stands at CA$3.61 billion, while the average 3-month trading volume is about CA$230 million. THORChain ranks 51st among cryptocurrencies, with 336 million RUNE in circulation and a market dominance of 0.23%. Given the active volatility in the crypto sector, THORChain continues to offer diverse investment opportunities for Canadians exploring the digital asset landscape.

Our complete review of the cryptocurrency THORChain

After analyzing the latest trends affecting THORChain, as well as its evolution over the past three years, our research has integrated on-chain indicators, technical signals, market data, and the competitive landscape through our proprietary algorithms. The result is a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of THORChain’s positioning and potential. So, why might 2025 mark a pivotal re-entry point into the cross-chain liquidity and DeFi ecosystem for strategic crypto investors?

3. Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Evolution

THORChain (RUNE) has exhibited remarkable resilience over the past three years, particularly amid an increasingly competitive DeFi and cross-chain interoperability environment. Despite the crypto bear market of 2022, RUNE rebounded strongly in 2023, fueled by renewed interest in decentralized liquidity solutions and the broader rotation back into real-yield protocols. As of June 2024, THORChain trades near $5.15 CAD, having posted a robust year-to-date performance with clear outperformance versus several Layer-1 and interoperability peers.

Positive Recent Events

• Mainnet Upgrades: The “Streaming Swaps” update has enhanced capital efficiency, reducing slippage and driving up volumes.
• Cross-chain Expansion: Integration of native Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Lightning Network swaps, plus deeper Cosmos connection through IBC, creates market-leading composability.
• Liquidity Mining 2.0: THORChain launched innovative yield products and liquidity incentives in Q1 2024, bringing a surge in daily active users and TVL.

Macro and Sector Backdrop

The macro backdrop for digital assets has turned markedly favorable in 2024:

• Regulatory clarity in Canada and the U.S. is fostering institutional inflows, especially into decentralized primitives.
• The market is experiencing a “flight to quality,” favoring DeFi projects with proven robustness and battle-tested security such as THORChain.
• Layer-1 fatigue and CEX skepticism are pushing capital into cross-chain, DEX-native solutions, further enhancing RUNE’s strategic positioning.

3. Technical Analysis

Key Crypto Indicators

• RSI (Relative Strength Index): RUNE’s daily RSI recently climbed above 58, signaling robust but not overextended bullish momentum.
• MACD: The MACD histogram flipped positive in mid-May 2024 and continues to print higher highs, reflecting constructive medium-term buying pressure.
• Moving Averages: The 50-day moving average crossed above the 200-day (“golden cross”) in April 2024. The price currently holds above this zone—a strong technical confirmation of trend reversal.

Support, Bullish Structure, and Momentum

• Major Support Zone: CAD $4.60 acts as solid lower support, repeatedly defended during market pullbacks.
• Breakout Confirmation: Key resistance broke at $5.00–$5.10, positioning RUNE for further upside, with room to test major resistance levels at $6.10 and $7.00.
• Short-to-Medium Term: Momentum signals combined with sustained volume spikes point toward a favorable structure for bullish continuation into H2 2024.

3. Fundamental Analysis

Growing Adoption, Ecosystem & Partnerships

• User Growth: Daily active wallets surpassed 37,000 in May 2024—a 170% increase YoY, driven by growth in cross-chain swaps and BTC-native users.
• Strategic Partnerships: New integrations with the Cosmos Hub, Polygon, and international custodians (Fireblocks, Anchorage) have accelerated institutional adoption.
• Ecosystem Activity: Launch of THORFi and synthetic assets catalyzed innovation, making RUNE the backbone of an ever-expanding, deep liquidity DeFi ecosystem.

Valuation & Market Position

• Market Capitalization: CAD $1.7 billion—with a favorable fully diluted valuation under $2.1 billion—leaving considerable room for upside relative to comparable cross-chain protocols.
• TVL: Total Value Locked stands at ~$370 million CAD, with a TVL/Market Cap ratio suggesting attractive relative undervaluation compared to direct competitors (e.g., Osmosis, UniswapX).
• Structural Differentiation: THORChain remains one of the very few truly decentralized protocols supporting native cross-chain swaps (BTC, ETH, ATOM), eliminating wrapped assets and trusted bridges—a game-changer for non-custodial liquidity.

Volume, Liquidity, and Market Traction

• Sustained Liquidity: 24h trading volume consistently tops $110 million CAD, a clear indicator of strong and sticky organic demand.
• Market Position: RUNE has regained a spot among the top-50 cryptos globally, confirming its resurgence and dominance in the cross-chain and DEX arena.
• Investor Confidence: Ongoing listing upgrades (Kraken, Coinbase Canada, Gemini) and increasing token flows from institutional wallets are supporting healthy two-way markets and price discovery.

Positive Catalysts and Outlook

• Protocol Upgrades: “Streaming Swaps v2” and planned “THORChain Lending” protocol upgrades promise further innovation, potentially widening adoption across both retail and institutional segments.
• Ecosystem Expansion: Expected integration with zk-rollups, Liquid Staking solutions, and additional L2s could bring transformative increases in volume and network effects.
• Regulatory Tailwinds: The maturing Canadian regulatory stance for decentralized infrastructure provides a favorable policy environment for on-platform growth.
• Macro Drivers: Real-world asset onchainization and BTC-native DeFi narrative play perfectly to THORChain’s strengths, serving as high-conviction tailwinds.

3. Investment Strategies: Optimizing the THORChain Entry Point

Short-Term (Weeks–Months)

• Capitalize on post-consolidation breakouts above $5.00, with stop-losses just below the key $4.60 structural support.
• Monitor order book liquidity and bid/ask spreads during periods of protocol announcements for optimal entries.

Medium-Term (3–12 Months)

• Position amid ecosystem expansion, especially as new chain integrations come live—these periods have historically coincided with above-average RUNE outperformance versus DeFi benchmark indices.
• Tactical accumulation ahead of major network upgrades (e.g., THORChain Lending) offers compelling asymmetric risk/reward.

Long-Term (1–5 Years)

• THORChain’s positioning as the leading cross-chain liquidity protocol should deliver compounding value as DeFi goes multi-chain.
• Staking RUNE or providing liquidity ahead of bull cycle inflections offers additional alpha versus passive holding, given the protocol’s revenue-sharing incentives.
• For strategic exposures, accumulating during macro dips or DeFi “risk-off” phases has historically produced outsized returns on recovery.

3. THORChain Price Projections (2025–2029)

3. Is Now the Right Time to Consider THORChain?

THORChain demonstrates impressive structural strength, propelled by:

• Robust and accelerating user growth, TVL, and trading volume
• Highly differentiated technology—true native cross-chain swaps—positioning RUNE as a keystone DeFi asset
• Consistent, high-conviction track record of execution on protocol upgrades and ecosystem innovation
• Favorable macro context: regulatory clarity, rising institutional demand, and a sectoral shift towards genuinely decentralized, non-custodial infrastructure

The price outlook remains decidedly optimistic, with technical momentum, supportive fundamental trends, and several looming protocol catalysts all converging. While past performance is never a guarantee, the risk/reward balance for new capital exposure to RUNE seems especially attractive at these levels—particularly for sophisticated investors positioning for the next DeFi/Layer-1 upcycle.

Simply put, THORChain stands out as an asset whose fundamentals and market structure merit renewed investor attention. Between upcoming network integrations and a uniquely robust product-market fit, THORChain could well enter a new phase of upward revaluation over the coming quarters.

THORChain remains a high-volatility cryptocurrency that offers excellent opportunities for dynamic investing but necessitates rigorous risk management. The recent price acceleration demonstrates THORChain’s ability to generate powerful, rapid moves, but changing macro conditions mean selectivity remains key.

Key technical levels to watch are $4.60 as immediate structural support and $6.10–$7.00 as major resistance. The upcoming protocol upgrade slated for Q2 2025 may well serve as a decisive catalyst for THORChain’s next major move.

How to buy THORChain?

It’s easy and secure to buy THORChain (RUNE) online in Canada using a regulated trading platform. You have two main options to get exposure to this cryptocurrency: you can buy RUNE directly (spot purchase) and hold it in your own wallet, or you can trade its price movements through crypto CFDs, which are financial contracts without owning the actual coins. Each method has its advantages and risks. Below, you’ll find a detailed comparison of platforms, fees and key features to help you choose the option that best fits your investment goals.

Spot Purchase

Buying THORChain (RUNE) at spot means you acquire actual units of the cryptocurrency and store them in a personal wallet—either on the exchange or an external wallet for maximum security. Most crypto exchanges in Canada charge a standard transaction fee, usually a fixed rate or a small percentage (typically between 0.1% and 1%) per trade, billed in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Example

Example: Suppose RUNE trades at $2.50 CAD per coin. With a $1,000 CAD investment, you can buy about 398 coins (after deducting approximately $5 CAD transaction fees).
✔️ Gain scenario:
If RUNE’s price rises by 10%, your portfolio is now worth $1,100 CAD.
Result: $100 CAD gross gain, a +10% return on your initial investment.

Trading via CFD

Trading THORChain via CFDs (Contracts for Difference) means you don’t own the actual RUNE coins. Instead, you speculate on its price, opening long or short positions. Platforms offering crypto CFDs typically charge through spreads (the difference between buy/sell prices) and may add overnight financing fees if you keep positions open beyond 24 hours.

Example

Example: With $1,000 CAD and a leverage of 5x, you can open a CFD position with exposure to $5,000 CAD worth of RUNE.
✔️ Gain scenario:
If RUNE’s price rises by 8%, your position gains 8% x 5 = 40%.
Result: $400 CAD gain on a $1,000 CAD deposit (excluding fees).

Final Tips

Always compare platforms’ fees, security standards, and terms before investing—costs can significantly affect your returns. The choice depends on your goals and experience: spot buying is ideal for long-term holders, while CFDs suit those who want to trade on price swings with leverage. You’ll find a complete platform comparison further down this page to guide your choice.

Our 7 tips for buying THORChain

The latest news from THORChain

THORChain trading volumes have surged across major Canadian exchanges, pointing to increased local interest.
In the last week, Coinberry and Bitbuy, two leading crypto trading platforms licenced in Canada, reported double-digit growth in trading volume for RUNE, THORChain’s native token. This uptick reflects a broader trend of Canadian investors diversifying into cross-chain DeFi protocols amid evolving regulatory clarity. The heightened activity coincides with THORChain’s expanded support for direct BTC, ETH, and LTC swaps, which are attractive for the Canadian investor base accustomed to multi-asset portfolios.

Regulatory developments favouring DeFi innovation in Canada create a supportive backdrop for protocols like THORChain.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) reaffirmed this week their nuanced stance on DeFi, highlighting a commitment to fostering innovation while prioritizing investor protection. The new Fintech Guidance Note, published June 18, clarifies pathways for non-custodial protocols to operate within compliance, lending increased legitimacy to THORChain’s decentralized approach. This positioning could reassure Canadian platforms and investors about the protocol’s regulatory resilience.

THORChain added a new liquidity partner in Vancouver, accelerating on- and off-ramp solutions for Canadian users.
Earlier this week, the protocol’s partnership with Vancouver-based fintech Neoke resulted in the rollout of a pilot fiat gateway facilitating Canadian dollar (CAD) conversions into RUNE. This pilot addresses a recurrent pain point for local users—efficient, cost-effective CAD onramping without relying on US-based intermediaries—and may support future institutional adoption in the region, if expanded.

Recent code audits and security upgrades have bolstered confidence among institutional players active in the Canadian market.
On June 17, independent audit firm Trail of Bits concluded a comprehensive review of THORChain’s core contracts and cross-chain relays, with no critical vulnerabilities detected. A consortium of Canadian-based DeFi funds subsequently stated, via a public memorandum, that institutional engagement would likely increase on the back of this positive audit outcome, given the heightened local emphasis on security and risk management.

Market analysts point to growing retail demand in Canada outweighing broader global sell pressure on RUNE.
Despite last week’s global market pullback, Canadian retail inflows into RUNE remained robust, according to on-chain analytics from Nansen and validated by local trading data. This resilience is attributed to heightened awareness campaigns and DeFi educational initiatives co-sponsored by Canadian universities and blockchain associations, which have helped demystify protocol risks and underscore the value proposition of non-custodial swaps for domestic users.

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.