How to buy THORChain (RUNE)

How to buy and use THORChain (RUNE) on its native network

THORChain is a decentralized liquidity protocol that allows users to swap assets between different blockchains, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, without using wrapped tokens. The network relies on its native asset, RUNE, to provide the liquidity necessary for these cross-chain swaps.

Because THORChain operates as its own network, users must be careful to use the correct addresses and networks when moving RUNE. Sending assets to the wrong chain can result in permanent loss.

Verified routes to get RUNE

RUNE is available on several centralized exchanges. When using these platforms, verify if they support withdrawals to the THORChain native network before depositing funds.

• Binance (RUNE/USDT)
• Bybit (RUNE/USDT)
• MEXC (RUNE/USDT)
• Gate (RUNE/USDT)
• KuCoin (RUNE/USDT)
• Kraken (RUNE/USD)
• Bitget (RUNE/USDT)
• WEEX (RUNE/USDT)

Other verified routes include BloFin, Phemex, Hotcoin, AscendEX, Bitvavo, WhiteBIT, BingX, Tapbit, BitKan, CoinEx, BtcTurk | Kripto, Binance TH, Tokocrypto, NovaDAX, CoinDCX, digitalexchange.id, ZebPay, WazirX, WOO X, CEX.IO, HTX, Crypto.com Exchange, Bitrue, FMFW.io, and Poloniex.

What the native network does

The THORChain network functions as a decentralized exchange (DEX) that supports swapping between various blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, XRP, Tron, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Avalanche, and Cosmos.

Unlike many other DEXs, THORChain does not use wrapped tokens. It uses RUNE as the primary liquidity asset to facilitate these swaps. A portion of the network revenue is burned, which makes the token supply deflationary. The protocol is open-source and allows developers to build new interfaces and applications on top of its infrastructure.

Wallet, transfer, and network-fee checks

To hold RUNE on its native network, you need a compatible wallet. Always verify the withdrawal network on your exchange to ensure it matches your wallet's supported chain.

You can use the THORChain explorer to check transaction status and verify addresses. For those who prefer hardware security, options like Ledger can be used to manage private keys.

Common mistakes include using lookalike contract addresses or assuming that an exchange supports the same network as your wallet. Always double-check the official THORChain documentation before making a transfer.

Self-custody and withdrawal risks

Moving assets to self-custody removes reliance on a central entity but introduces new risks. The RUNE contract address is listed as THOR.RUNE; you should verify this through official sources before any transfer.

The network has faced security challenges. Reports from CryptoBreaking and Cointelegraph indicate a $10 million exploit that affected over 12,000 wallets across BTC, ETH, BNB, and Base. In response, THORChain launched a recovery portal to help affected users revoke malicious approvals and claim refunds.

Additionally, crypto.news reported that RUNE holders approved ADR028 to prepare for a network restart following the exploit. These events show that even decentralized protocols can have vulnerabilities.

Sources and methodology

This guide is based on verified data from our internal database and the CoinMarketCap API. Route information comes exclusively from verified market-pair rows. Background context on the project and risk factors was gathered through web research, including official reports from thorchain.org and news from Cointelegraph and crypto.news.

Information from CoinMarketCap page scrapes is treated as low-confidence context. Live market values, such as price and volume, are omitted because they change too frequently to remain accurate in a static guide.