Latest THORChain (RUNE) News Update

Deep Dive

1. @AstuteTradingCo: Falling wedge pattern suggests accumulation bullish

"THORChain has found support at the lower boundary of the falling wedge pattern on the 3D chart... A confirmed bounce could trigger movement toward $3.33" – @AstuteTradingCo (2.7K followers · 21 February 2026 11:53 AM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because a falling wedge is typically a reversal pattern. A bounce from the lower boundary suggests "smart money accumulation" and could signal the end of a downtrend, with a technical target offering a clear upside level for traders to watch.

2. @Jatinkkalra: Solana integration expands cross-chain utility bullish

".@solana is coming to @THORChain ! ⚡... By integrating $SOL, THORChain becomes the primary 'liquidity bridge' for millions of users... Coming this February!" – @Jatinkkalra (2.2K followers · 25 January 2026 04:33 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because integrating a high-throughput chain like Solana significantly expands THORChain's addressable market and utility. It positions RUNE as essential infrastructure for tapping into Solana's retail and memecoin liquidity, potentially driving higher swap volumes and fee demand.

3. @Assemble_io: Coinbase hacker uses THORChain for swaps bearish

"A hacker who stole funds from Coinbase users has sold a total of 26,347 ETH for approximately $68.18 million in DAI through THORChain..." – @Assemble_io (118K followers · 22 May 2025 02:49 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bearish for RUNE's perception because it highlights the protocol's use in obfuscating transactions from stolen funds. While it demonstrates functional utility, it attracts regulatory scrutiny and could damage THORChain's reputation as a neutral infrastructure, potentially deterring institutional adoption.

4. @THORChain: Deflationary burn mechanism explained bullish

"$RUNE is now deflationary... Protocol fees are used to burn $RUNE. More RUNE is removed from supply than created⚡️" – @THORChain (287K followers · 7 August 2025 06:36 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because transitioning to a deflationary model directly ties token value to protocol usage. As swap volume grows, the increased fee revenue leads to more RUNE being burned, creating a sustainable, usage-driven scarcity that supports long-term price fundamentals.

Conclusion

The consensus on RUNE is mixed but fundamentally engaged, balancing bullish technical setups and ecosystem growth against bearish regulatory overhangs. Traders are eyeing key chart levels for a reversal, while builders are focused on expanding cross-chain reach—yet its very utility in permissionless swaps continues to court controversy. Watch for the impact of the Solana integration on swap volume and fee burns as the next tangible metric for network growth.

Deep Dive

1. IoTeX Bridge Hacked Via THORChain (21 February 2026)

Overview: A private key compromise led to the theft of an estimated $8 million from the IoTeX bridge. The attacker swapped stolen assets for Ethereum and then used THORChain to bridge approximately 45 ETH to Bitcoin addresses. This move complicates recovery, as THORChain's decentralized design lacks a central freeze mechanism. What this means: This is bearish for RUNE's perception because it highlights how the protocol's core feature–permissionless, native cross-chain swaps–can be weaponized by hackers to obfuscate and secure stolen funds, potentially attracting regulatory scrutiny. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Bybit Hack Funds Laundered Through THORChain (21 February 2026)

Overview: Following the massive Bybit breach, on-chain analysis revealed that THORChain was the primary route, facilitating the conversion of 72% of the stolen Ethereum into Bitcoin. This has ignited a governance discussion on the protocol's responsibility and the limits of its decentralized auditability. What this means: This is a mixed development for RUNE. It underscores its established utility for large-scale, native asset conversion, which is bullish for network usage. However, it also pressures its community to define ethical and legal boundaries, a process that could slow innovation or alter its permissionless nature. (Coincu)

3. Solana Integration Set for February Launch (25 January 2026)

Overview: THORChain has confirmed the upcoming integration of the Solana blockchain, slated for February 2026. This addition aims to position THORChain as the primary liquidity bridge for Solana's vast user base, enabling direct swaps between SOL and native Bitcoin. What this means: This is bullish for RUNE as it represents a significant ecosystem expansion. Integrating a high-throughput chain like Solana could drive substantial new swap volume and liquidity, directly increasing fee revenue for liquidity providers and strengthening the protocol's value proposition. (Jatin Kalra)

Conclusion

THORChain is caught between proving its indispensable utility for legitimate cross-chain swaps and grappling with its unintended role in major fund laundering. Its trajectory now hinges on how the community navigates this tension while executing on growth plans like the Solana integration. Will protocol governance adapt to mitigate reputational risk without compromising its foundational decentralization?

Deep Dive

1. Solana Chain Integration (February 2026)

Overview: THORChain is set to integrate the Solana blockchain, enabling native SOL swaps. This move, announced for February 2026 (Jatin Kalra), aims to bridge Solana's massive retail and memecoin user base with THORChain's liquidity, particularly for rotating gains into native Bitcoin. The integration is powered by EdDSA signature support, a technical prerequisite for Solana, TON, and Cardano.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because it fundamentally expands the protocol's addressable market and utility. Connecting a top-tier ecosystem like Solana could drive a significant increase in swap volume and liquidity provider fees, directly boosting network revenue.

2. Native Swap Interface Official Launch (Q1 2026)

Overview: The official launch of swap.thorchain.org is planned for Q1 2026 (The Daily Hodl). This dedicated interface, currently in public beta, allows users to execute trustless, native asset swaps without connecting a wallet. It is designed to be the protocol's primary front-end, improving onboarding and giving developers control over the routing logic.

What this means: This is neutral to bullish for RUNE. A streamlined, official interface could attract more direct users and increase protocol-controlled volume. However, its success depends on user adoption and whether it can effectively compete with established third-party front-ends.

3. Rapid Swaps & Technical Upgrades (Upcoming)

Overview: The core team has teased "two major upgrades," including "Rapid Swaps" (THORChain). This follows a consistent release cadence (e.g., v3.10.0 was expected shortly after v3.9.0 in July 2025). Upgrades typically include App Layer improvements, security fixes, and optimizations like reduced block times and better fee management.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because continuous technical refinement enhances network reliability, security, and user experience. A more efficient and stable protocol is crucial for sustaining and growing institutional and retail usage, which supports long-term value accrual to RUNE.

4. Expansion to Long-Tail Assets via Intents (Long-term)

Overview: A strategic vision involves developing THORChain's version of "intents" to enable swapping of "long tail assets on every blockchain" (CoinMarketCap). This would allow users to eventually swap any token from any self-custody wallet, moving beyond the current set of major native assets.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE as it represents a massive expansion of the protocol's potential use cases and total addressable market. Successfully becoming the universal liquidity layer for all crypto assets would position RUNE as fundamental infrastructure, though execution is a complex, long-term endeavor.

Conclusion

THORChain's immediate roadmap is focused on concrete ecosystem expansion with Solana and a polished user interface, while its long-term vision aims to become the universal liquidity base layer for all crypto assets. How quickly will the network's node operator count and economic security scale to match this ambitious vision?

Deep Dive

1. Solana Integration Announced (February 2026)

Overview: This upcoming integration will connect the Solana blockchain to THORChain's liquidity network. It aims to serve as a primary "liquidity bridge" for Solana users, especially those looking to move gains from memecoins directly into native Bitcoin without using centralized exchanges.

The integration is significant because Solana is a high-throughput chain with a massive retail user base. Connecting it natively expands THORChain's reach and utility, positioning it as essential infrastructure for cross-chain capital rotation.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because it significantly expands the total addressable market and potential swap volume. More users from a vibrant ecosystem like Solana means more fees for liquidity providers and node operators, directly increasing the protocol's utility and demand for RUNE. (Jatin Kalra)

2. V3.9.0 Release with Noble USDC (31 July 2025)

Overview: This major release integrated the Noble blockchain, bringing native NOBLE.USDC—Circle's only authorized USDC on Cosmos—to THORChain. It provides a secure, fiat-backed stablecoin without relying on bridges or synthetic assets. The update also included important app-layer governance changes, allowing trusted developers to deploy contracts faster.

Key technical fixes resolved a memory leak in THORNode and added "instant observe" for XRP to prevent transaction issues.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because it adds high-quality, low-risk stablecoin liquidity, making swaps more attractive and efficient. Smoother developer workflows mean faster innovation on top of THORChain, leading to a richer ecosystem and more reasons for users to engage with the protocol. (THORChain)

3. V3.8.0 Release and New Chains (16 July 2025)

Overview: This release featured over 30 merge requests. A core technical achievement was EDDSA support, which unlocks integrations with non-EVM chains like Solana, Cardano, and TON. It also made TRON swaps live, providing access to a major network for USDT.

User experience improvements included the ability to modify or cancel pending limit swaps and a more predictable swap quote API. A key security feature allowed the protocol to quickly halt secured asset operations if a threat was detected.

What this means: This is bullish for RUNE because it demonstrates robust development velocity and lays the technical groundwork for massive ecosystem expansion. More chains mean more swap routes and liquidity, directly driving protocol revenue and the fundamental demand for RUNE as the settlement asset. (THORChain)

Conclusion

THORChain's development is sharply focused on expanding its cross-chain footprint through critical technical upgrades (like EDDSA) and integrating major blockchains, with Solana representing the next significant leap. This trajectory solidifies its role as foundational liquidity infrastructure. How will the integration of high-velocity chains like Solana impact the network's fee dynamics and RUNE's valuation model?