THORChain is a decentralized cross-chain liquidity protocol based on Tendermint & Cosmos-SDK and utilizing Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS). It allows users to exchange cryptocurrency assets across a range of networks without losing full custody of their assets in the process. It does not peg or wrap assets, it simply determines how to move them in response to user actions. With THORChain, users can simply swap one asset for another in a permissionless setting, without needing to rely on order books to source liquidity. Instead, market prices are maintained through the ratio of assets in a pool. THORChain observes incoming user deposits to vaults, executes business logic (swap, add/remove liquidity), and processes outbound transactions.
THORChain is primarily a leaderless vault manager, ensuring that every stage of the process is byzantine-fault-tolerant. THORChain's key objective is to be resistant to centralization and capture whilst facilitating cross-chain liquidity. The native utility token of the THORChain platform is RUNE. It is used as the base currency in the THORChain ecosystem and is also used for platform governance and security as part of THORChain's Sybil resistance mechanisms.
THORChain uses a unique system to help mitigate the issue of "impermanent losses" — or the often temporary losses that a liquidity provider can experience when contributing to liquidity pools. It achieves this by using a slip-based fee to help ensure liquidity stays where it is needed.
THORChain combines a range of novel technologies, including on-way state pegs, a state machine, the Bifröst Signer Module, and a TSS protocol to seamlessly facilitate cross-chain token swaps. This is all kept behind the scenes, making the platform accessible to even inexperienced traders. The platform isn't profit-oriented. All fees generated by the protocol go directly to the users, and there are no provisions for the team. Instead, the team is incentivized by simply holding RUNE — just like everyone else. The RUNE token is currently available on multiple blockchains, including Binance Chain (as a BEP-2 token) and Ethereum (as an ERC-20 token).
