Should You Buy THORChain in 2025?

THORChain at a Glance

How much does 1 THORChain cost?

The price of THORChain is rising this week. As of now, RUNE is trading at AED 6.36, showing a 24-hour increase of about 5.9% and gaining 11.1% over the past week. The current market capitalization stands near AED 2.26 billion, with an average daily trading volume of AED 552 million over the last three months.

While these strong gains and increased activity reflect a renewed interest, investors should remain aware of the notable volatility and evolving regulatory landscape.

Our complete review of the cryptocurrency THORChain

Have recent cross-chain market dynamics unlocked a critical window for THORChain? Over the past three years, we have thoroughly analyzed THORChain’s evolution, deploying proprietary algorithms that synthesize on-chain metrics, technical signals, market data, and a rigorous competitive landscape assessment. So, why could THORChain re-emerge in 2025 as a pivotal strategic entry point within the cross-chain DeFi infrastructure ecosystem?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Evolution

THORChain (RUNE) has exhibited compelling momentum, with the current price at $1.74 USD, reflecting a robust increase of +70.7% year-on-year and +38.3% over the past six months. Intraday movements frequently surpass +5%, correlating with the resurgence of activity in the DeFi sector and a clear reweighting by both retail and institutional actors. Notably, THORChain is climbing from deep discount territory, still down -91.82% from its $21.26 all-time high of May 2021—a significant element in any mean reversion thesis.

Positive Recent Events

• XRP Cross-Chain Integration: The May 2025 inclusion of native XRP swaps marks a milestone for protocol reach, positioning RUNE at the center of multi-chain liquidity.
• Streaming Swaps Deployment: Technological refinement now enables large trades to be split into smaller units, effectively optimizing transaction costs and minimizing slippage—critical for whales and market makers.
• Mainnet Update (3.6.0): Fresh network hardening builds further reliability, a distinctly positive credential in the wake of heightened regulatory vigilance.

Favorable Macroeconomic/Market Backdrop

Across digital asset markets, continued institutional allocation, rising DeFi total value locked (TVL), and the resurgence of native layer-1 and cross-chain narratives have benefited protocols with actual, utility-driven adoption. Regulatory headwinds—while a risk factor for controversial assets—are increasingly resulting in regulatory clarity rather than outright exclusion, adding a layer of medium-term confidence for infrastructure protocols such as THORChain.

Technical Analysis

Key Indicators and Structure

• Moving Averages: A decisive 92.86% of moving average signals trend bullish, with all relevant short and mid-term MAs aligning in upward formation.
• Support and Resistance: Current support at $1.64 is robust, with resistance encountered at $1.76. Sustained movement above this zone could open a technical pathway to $2.25 (next psychological resistance).
• Momentum Indicators: The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains within an expansionary, yet not overbought, zone. MACD curves on daily and weekly timeframes exhibit bullish crossovers—a classic signal of ongoing positive momentum.
• Market Structure: Price action demonstrates classic accumulation behavior, with higher lows and volume spikes coinciding with major network news.

Short/Mid-Term Momentum

The confluence of momentum, bullish structure, and increasingly positive volume dynamics tilts the probability equilibrium toward further appreciation. While volatility remains inherent, the current technical constellation suggests an emerging uptrend with further room for upside on any technical retracement.

Fundamental Analysis

Adoption, Partnerships, Ecosystem

• Level of Utilization: With over 50.24 million total swaps and $103.7B in lifetime trading volume, THORChain’s core platform utility is well-demonstrated.
• User Base Growth: 137,800 unique users and integration with nine leading blockchains reflect proactive onboarding and protocol interoperability.
• Strategic Collaborations: Recent wallet integrations (Ledger, Trust Wallet, OKX) further cement the protocol’s accessibility to a broad user segment.

Relative Valuation

• Market Cap: At ~$613M, RUNE trades at a clear discount relative to its network activity—its TVL ($154M – $169M) compares very favorably to direct competitors, delivering an attractive value proposition.
• Supply Dynamics: The circulating supply of 351.45M (of max 500M) underscores a supply structure unlikely to see dilution pressure.

Structural Advantages

• Technological Innovation: The only protocol facilitating native Bitcoin-to-DeFi swaps, THORChain circumvents the risks of wrapped tokens entirely, unlocking new liquidity avenues.
• Security & Decentralization: Security via a unique 2:1 bond:stake mechanism, without any central leadership (fully decentralized, no CEO or founder), lowers centralization risks.
• Community and Governance: A vibrant validator base (115 active) and codebase managed by Nine Realms ensure distributed operational risk and ongoing technical stewardship.

Volume and Liquidity

• Liquidity Depth: A daily trading volume consistently north of $140M–$162M attests to significant market confidence and the capacity to absorb large orders with minimal slippage.
• Dominance and Market Tier: While well beneath ATHs, RUNE’s sustained top 70 market cap position signals ongoing institutional and retail attention.

Growth Catalysts

• Protocol Advancements: XRP and additional blockchain integrations create new use cases and fee streams.
• Network Expansion: Steady TVL and trading AUM growth diversify fee income and underpin ongoing system utility.
• Favorable Regulatory Signals: While eyes remain on KYC/AML developments post-Lazarus controversy, proactive engagement and visible upgrades in compliance features can flip risk to opportunity, particularly for early entrants.
• Macro DeFi/NFT Tailwinds: Large-scale capital redeployment into DeFi protocols following centralized exchange volatility increasingly rewards platforms with robust bridge infrastructure—an area where THORChain leads.

Investment Strategies: Entry Points by Horizon

Short-Term Positioning

• Event-Driven Influx: Entering in anticipation of technical breakouts or before scheduled integrations/upgrades (e.g., new blockchain or wallet support) allows one to benefit from news-driven volatility.
• Technical Rebounds: Strategic entries on technical pullbacks toward the $1.64 support zone, with tight risk parameters, present logical risk-reward stances.

Medium-Term Strategies

• Range Accumulation: Progressive layering into positions while price consolidates between $1.60–$2.25, exploiting volatility as the market processes recent and forthcoming protocol advancements.
• Yield Boost: Leveraging liquidity provision and yield farming programs on THORChain can amplify total returns during ecosystem expansion.

Long-Term Thesis

• Structural Undervaluation: At -91.82% from its ATH, with a proven product-market fit and new integrations underway, THORChain represents an asymmetric upside play as cross-chain infrastructure adoption matures.
• Secular Adoption Curve: THORChain’s unique architecture and market positioning suggest significant appreciation potential, particularly as multi-chain DeFi becomes a persistent market reality.

Is Now the Right Time to Consider THORChain?

THORChain stands at a critical inflection point, propelled by compelling technical momentum, resilient network effect, and a constant stream of protocol innovations. Multiple strengths converge: rapidly increasing trade volume, strategic partnerships, deepening ecosystem integration, and a rare capacity to bridge dominant blockchains—including native Bitcoin—without reliance on wrapped assets. Persistently high liquidity underlines solid market confidence, while a market capitalization still markedly below its highs suggests room for growth.

The convergence of these factors justifies renewed attention: THORChain’s fundamentals, technological edge, and multi-chain reach make a strong case for short- and long-term positioning as the new crypto market cycle unfolds. While volatility and regulatory scrutiny remain, the current price zone seems to offer an excellent opportunity for investors who seek robust DeFi infrastructure plays.

THORChain remains a highly volatile cryptocurrency presenting dynamic investment opportunities, necessitating disciplined portfolio management. The recent acceleration in price demonstrates the protocol's capacity for rapid, outsized moves, while the evolving macro landscape means selectivity and timing remain central. Key technical support levels to watch are $1.64 (immediate support) and $1.76–$2.25 (resistance threshold). The next major protocol upgrade, scheduled for Q2 2025, could serve as a defining catalyst for THORChain’s trajectory ahead.

How to buy THORChain?

It is simple and secure to buy THORChain (RUNE) cryptocurrency online through a regulated platform. As an investor in the UAE, you can choose from two main methods to access this digital asset: spot purchase, where you own the coins directly; or trading via crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which lets you speculate on RUNE’s price without taking possession of the coins. Both approaches have their advantages—read on for a detailed comparison of each. For a platform comparison tailored to UAE residents, see our dedicated table lower down this page.

Spot Purchase

Spot purchase of THORChain means buying the actual RUNE tokens—to be stored in your exchange or personal crypto wallet. This way, you directly own the coins and can transfer, hold, or use them as you wish. Common fees for spot buying on regulated exchanges are usually a fixed commission per transaction, typically 0.5% to 1.5%, plus a small flat fee, charged in AED or USD.

Example

Suppose you invest 4,000 AED (approx. $1,089) and the price of THORChain is $1.74 per token. You could purchase around 625 RUNE (4,000 AED ≈ $1,089 → $1,089/$1.74 ≈ 625), excluding about 20 AED (≈ $5) in transaction fees.

Profit scenario

If the price of THORChain rises by 10%, your investment now values about 4,400 AED. That’s a gross gain of 400 AED—10% up on your initial stake.

Trading via CFD

Trading THORChain via CFDs does not entail actual ownership of the coins. Instead, you open a contract that tracks the price movements of RUNE—letting you profit from rises or falls, often with leverage. Fees include the spread (the difference between buy and sell price), and a daily “overnight” fee if you keep your position open.

Example

You commit 4,000 AED on a CFD platform, using 5x leverage. This gives you exposure to 20,000 AED worth of RUNE.

Profit scenario

If THORChain’s price jumps by 8%, your leveraged position increases by 8% × 5 = 40%. That translates to a potential gross gain of 1,600 AED, on your original 4,000 AED (excluding fees and funding costs).

Final Advice

Always compare platform fees, spreads, and terms before investing in THORChain, as costs vary widely. Your decision—spot or CFD—should suit your investment goals, experience, and risk profile. For a full platform comparison with UAE-specific options, scroll down to our dedicated table below.

Our 7 Tips for Buying THORChain

The latest news from THORChain

THORChain (RUNE) showed a strong 11.1% price increase this week, outpacing most DeFi peers. This rally is coupled with a 5.7%-6.1% intraday jump and a healthy trading volume of over $140M daily, suggesting robust global market interest. Over the past year, RUNE has appreciated by 70.7%, highlighting a long-term recovery from previous lows and aligning with a wider rebound of decentralized cross-chain protocols. This sustained bullish trend has direct relevance for AE-based investors, as leading regional crypto exchanges like Binance, KuCoin, and OKX remain among THORChain’s top liquidity centers, facilitating local access and liquidity.

Major technical indicators for RUNE remain clearly bullish, with more than 92% of moving average signals positive. The short-term support for RUNE has moved up to $1.64, with immediate resistance at $1.76, a range tested multiple times in the past week. This translates into a technically constructive setup, suggesting potential movement toward the medium-term upside target of $2.25 if current volumes continue. For AE investors accustomed to active technical analysis and swing trading in dynamic markets, these signals provide a foundation for cautious optimism, especially as THORChain proves resilient compared to the highly volatile broader altcoin sector.

XRP integration in May 2025 enabled native cross-chain XRP swaps, attracting strong attention from regional traders. This development allows users to perform native swaps between XRP and Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other assets without wrapped tokens, a unique feature in the DeFi landscape and especially relevant as demand for cross-chain solutions rises in AE markets. Furthermore, this enables institutional and retail participants in AE—where both XRP and BTC have significant trading communities—to access greater asset mobility across blockchains, potentially lowering friction for treasury and remittance operations.

THORChain’s mainnet upgrade (3.6.0) and launch of Streaming Swaps improved network stability and cost efficiency. The 3.6.0 protocol upgrade has delivered smoother performance under high transaction loads. Meanwhile, the Streaming Swaps innovation divides large trades into batches to minimize fees and slippage. This is particularly beneficial for active and high-volume traders in the region seeking to optimize costs, where transaction fees and execution efficiency are primary concerns due to the intense competition among DeFi platforms catering to Middle Eastern users.

THORChain maintains strong fundamental growth, with TVL exceeding $150M and integration with top AE-facing wallets. The protocol now secures over $153M in Total Value Locked (TVL) and counts more than 137,800 unique users. Integration with wallets such as Ledger, Trust Wallet, and OKX—widely adopted in the Middle East—streamlines onboarding for AE-based users and institutions. This strengthens the utility case for RUNE within the local DeFi ecosystem, as these integrations facilitate secure, seamless access for both inexperienced and sophisticated market participants interested in decentralized, cross-chain asset swaps.

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.