What is THORChain: cross-chain swaps without a third-party

Ever wondered how you can trade cryptocurrencies directly between different blockchains without relying on an intermediary? THORChain makes this possible by allowing seamless, secure swaps across blockchains, all while keeping your assets under your control. Here’s how it works and what it brings to decentralized trading.

TL;DR

• THORChain lets you swap crypto directly between blockchains.

• Advanced security measures like the GG20 Signature Scheme protect assets during trades.

• The protocol’s token, RUNE, ensures liquidity and security.

• The Bifröst Protocol lets different blockchains work together easily, making cross-chain swaps simple and fair.

• THORChain maintains constant liquidity, balanced incentives, and smooth network upgrades for a reliable trading experience.

What is THORChain?

THORChain is a decentralized protocol designed to let you trade cryptocurrencies directly between different blockchains without needing a go-between or resorting to wrapped tokens.

Picture it as a marketplace where traders from various countries exchange goods in their currencies without worrying about conversions or exchange fees. This kind of direct trading was challenging before THORChain's advancements.

THORChain’s underlining technology uses Tendermint and Cosmos-SDK. These engines power the network, keeping it fast, secure, and efficient. Another key technology in the project is the GG20 Threshold Signature Scheme.

Think of this as a secure vault that requires multiple keys to open, making sure no single entity controls your assets during a swap. This method keeps your trades safe from start to finish.

Let’s say you have Bitcoin but want to trade it for Ethereum. Typically, you’d need to go through a centralized exchange or use wrapped versions of the tokens, which adds complexity and risk. With THORChain, you can make the swap directly. As a result, your Bitcoin stays Bitcoin, and your Ethereum stays Ethereum, without any third-party involvement.

THORChain simplifies the trading process by eliminating third parties and improving security and decentralization. You can control your assets all the time during the transaction. This is a change from previous models where you had to go through an exchange to manage the swap.

THORChain is creating a decentralized trading environment where different blockchains can interact seamlessly. It’s like giving each blockchain its own language translator, enabling them to “speak” directly to each other without needing a go-between. This paves the way for a more user-controlled crypto economy.

How does THORChain keep the protocol secure and decentralized?

With THORChain, security and decentralization are embedded in the protocol. One of the key elements keeping THORChain secure is its focus on economic security.

The system was designed so bad actors would lose more money than they could gain by trying to cheat the system. Validators responsible for securing the network have to put up a significant bond in the form of RUNE tokens. If they misbehave, they lose that bond, which keeps everyone in check.

Another layer of security comes from validator selection and the high churn rates of nodes. Validators are selected randomly and are regularly rotated out. This means no single validator or group of validators can gain too much power, which helps prevent centralization.

Then there’s the Nakamoto Coefficient, a metric that measures how decentralized a blockchain is. THORChain keeps a high Nakamoto Coefficient by making sure that power is shared among many different validators. This makes it hard for any one person to control the network. This decentralized structure is critical because it protects against attacks and keeps THORChain open and secure.

How does RUNE help THORChain?

RUNE is the glue that binds the THORChain network. Its most critical function is in liquidity pools, which act as the base pair for every asset traded on the network. Every swap involves RUNE, ensuring liquidity and seamless exchanges between cryptocurrencies.

RUNE also plays a part in network security. Validators, who are responsible for keeping the network running smoothly and securely must bond RUNE as collateral. As mentioned, if validators act dishonestly, they stand to lose their bonded RUNE, which keeps them motivated to act in the network’s best interests.

Meanwhile, THORChain aims to minimize governance within its protocol. This approach ensures that nodes don’t communicate with or identify with each other, which THORChain feels is crucial for maintaining security. By preventing nodes from collaborating, the network reduces the risk of nodes acting together to take control of the protocol.

RUNE supports governance of the THORChain network, including decisions on the following:

Listing new assets

• You can show interest in new assets by staking in a new pool.

• When THORChain detects a new asset, it creates a new pool in bootstrap mode, where swapping is initially disabled.

• The network reviews bootstrapping pools every few days and lists the one with the highest value.

Delisting assets

• Assets are delisted when all liquidity providers withdraw, or the pool depth drops too low.

• New bootstrap pools are compared to the smallest active pools, and deeper pools replace shallower ones.

Listing a new chain

• The community proposes a new chain with a THORChain Improvement Proposal (TIP).

• If approved, the new chain is added to the THORNode software.

• The new chain is connected once 67% of nodes upgrade to the new software.

Delisting a chain

• Nodes stop watching the chain. When 67% no longer monitor it, the chain is removed, and assets are returned to their owners.

Change management within THORChain

Changes to THORChain are managed through Architecture Decision Records (ADR), which are submitted by developers from the community. Meanwhile, node operators vote on these ADRs, guiding the evolution of the network. These ADRs include:

• Context on relevant goals and the current state.

• Proposed changes to achieve the project's goals.

• Pros and cons summary.

• Supporting references submitted by developers and a changelog for transparency.

Emergency changes

Emergency changes are complex due to the lack of node communication. In emergencies, nodes should leave the system. If the number of nodes falls below four, funds are paid out, and the system can be shut down. This emergency process is known as Ragnarök.

Economic limit

The network has a fixed supply of Rune and a minimum bond amount, limiting the number of participating nodes. Governance may adjust the minimum bond limit to maintain balance if the system is consistently under-bonded or over-bonded.

How does THORChain handle cross-chain swapping?

THORChain has a unique way of handling cross-chain swaps, which relies on the Bifröst Protocol. Bifröst acts as the bridge connecting different blockchains, allowing them to trade assets easily.

Whether you’re dealing with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other blockchain, the Bifröst Protocol ensures these swaps happen smoothly. Each blockchain has its own language and way of handling transactions. Bitcoin uses UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output), while Ethereum uses EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) to manage smart contracts. The Bifröst Protocol helps blockchains talk to each other.

This means a Bitcoin transaction can work directly with an Ethereum contract, and vice versa. This ability to handle different types of chains — whether UTXO, EVM, or others — makes THORChain swapping incredibly versatile.

The protocol is designed for fair and transparent pricing during these swaps. It does this by using the decentralized nature of THORChain, meaning there’s no need for third-party price feeds or oracles. Instead, the network’s own mechanisms determine the price, which helps to avoid manipulation and gives traders a fair deal.

What are THORChain's key features?

THORChain offers continuous liquidity pools. Unlike traditional liquidity pools that might dry up or become imbalanced, THORChain’s pools are designed to be always available and self-balancing. This makes sure that no matter when you’re looking to swap assets, there’s always enough liquidity to make it happen smoothly.

There’s also the incentive pendulum, which helps balance the network between validators and liquidity providers. If too many resources are allocated to one side, the incentives shift to encourage more participation on the other. This balanced structure helps to keep the network healthy and well-distributed.

There’s also asynchronous network upgrades. Rather than pausing the entire network for an upgrade, THORChain allows different parts of the network to be upgraded independently and seamlessly. This reduces downtime and minimizes the impact of changes on the community, eliminating any complications that come with a traditional network upgrade.

Finally, liquidity-sensitive fees are a feature designed to keep transaction costs fair. The fees adjust based on the liquidity of the pool, ensuring that swaps are cost-effective without compromising the stability of the pools themselves.

The final word

THORChain lets you trade cryptocurrencies directly between blockchains without intermediaries or wrapped tokens. It provides robust security through advanced tech like the GG20 Signature Scheme, which protects your assets during swaps. Meanwhile, RUNE, the network’s native token, helps to enable smooth trades and secure the protocol by keeping validators honest.

The Bifröst Protocol allows different blockchains to interact seamlessly, making cross-chain swaps simple and fair. THORChain’s design ensures constant liquidity, balances incentives, and allows for smooth upgrades, creating a reliable and decentralized trading environment.