RUNE crypto surged 56% in a week as THORChain rebounds from Q1 2025 challenges. The TCY token launch, v3.5.0 upgrade, and reduced fees drive this comeback, with trading volume hitting $100 billion.
It has been a turbulent year for RUNE crypto and THORChain. From bankruptcy concerns that saw RUNEUSDT crash in Q1 2025 to claims of enabling the laundering of stolen Bybit funds, developers had to deliver something extraordinary to shift sentiment and repair the damage.
RUNE Surges 56% in One Week
THORChain is on the right path, at least from a price perspective. RUNE is among the top performers, adding an impressive 56% in the past week. While more work is needed for the project to break into the top 100, progress is evident, making RUNE crypto one of the best cryptos to consider in May 2025.
Technically, the uptrend remains. After months of consolidation from early February, the coin broke higher this month. The zone between $1.50 and $1.60 is reliable support. If bulls prevent bears from pushing lower, prices could surge in the coming weeks, reaching $3 and $5. In this way, RUNE crypto would easily outperform even some of the best Solana meme coins.
TCY Token Launch
The current rally is driven by strategic developments paying off. Notably, after the turbulence of Q1 2025, the team launched a new token, TCY, as an alternative to diluting RUNE’s circulating supply following bankruptcy risk.
TCY addresses the fallout from the default of the THORFi lending and savers program. Like other decentralized money markets, such as Aave, THORFi allowed users to lend and earn yields on assets. However, excessive debt and leverage strained the protocol, leading to a temporary insolvency declaration and pause in Q1 2025.
Launched on May 5, TCY is claimable by THORFi participants and offers stakers indefinite access to 10% of THORChain’s fees. Since the launch, RUNE prices have strengthened, and trading volume on THORChain is swelling.
TCY, @THORChain solution for THORFi claimants (Lending, Savers Earn, Synths) is live on @THORSwap!
Stake TCY and earn 10% of THORChain protocol income.
Claim, manage, and trade TCY in one seamless interface: https://t.co/x7UkSyjWll
1/ Learn more ?? pic.twitter.com/TXviGSQ0GZ
— THORSwap ⚡ #BetterThanCEX (@THORSwap) May 7, 2025
Developers Activate v3.5.0 and THORChain Nodes Lower Swapping Fees
On May 1, THORChain activated v3.5.0, introducing technical enhancements, including a complete refactor of Bifrost, the cross-chain bridge. Developers also improved the DEX’s transaction security while concurrently boosting reliability and scalability, which were critical for the TCY launch.
On May 6, THORChain nodes voted to reduce protocol fees from 16 to 10 basis points, making swaps cheaper and more attractive.
Mimir Update: L1SLIPMINBPS = 5
✅ Protocol fees have been lowered from 16 BPS → 10 BPS.
? Nodes have decided to make this change to keep THORChain price-competitive with other cross-chain solutions.
Onwards! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/j3aV9tgTbt
— THORChain (@THORChain) May 6, 2025
Plans to integrate additional chains, including Tron, TON, and the XRP Ledger, will attract more traders.
Presently, a THORChain report shows that Bitcoin and Ethereum-related trades account for over 80% of trading volume over the last year. Adding more top altcoins could introduce more choices, driving volume even higher.
As the multi-chain DEX rebuilds and moves past Q1 2025 controversies, it has surpassed several milestones.
State of the Network 12/05 – Volume Crosses $100B
? THORChain has officially surpassed $100 billion in cumulative trading volume, a milestone the Chads rightly celebrate.
What makes this even more impressive is that THORChain isn’t relying on incentives to attract users. All… pic.twitter.com/1m1K9sk4x7
— THORChain (@THORChain) May 12, 2025
On May 12, the protocol exceeded $100 billion in total trading volume, showing that THORChain remains a go-to decentralized liquidity hub for swappers.
There are over 750,000 unique wallets, and the protocol, on average, onboards over 18,000 new wallets every month.
