ChainBridge
Intermediate10 min read

Thorchain Native Swaps: Trade BTC, DOGE & LTC Without Bridges

Swap native Bitcoin for native Ethereum without wrapped tokens, bridges, or custodians. Thorchain makes true cross-chain trading possible, and ChainBridge brings you real-time quotes directly from the Thorchain network.

Key Takeaways

  • Thorchain enables native cross-chain swaps: real BTC, real ETH, real DOGE, no wrapped tokens
  • Swaps are atomic: you either receive the output asset or get a refund, never stuck in between
  • ChainBridge fetches real-time quotes from Thorchain's Thornode API with live fees and estimated times
  • Supported chains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, BNB, Avalanche, Cosmos

What Makes Thorchain Different?

Most cross-chain solutions use bridges that lock your tokens on one chain and mint wrapped versions on another. This introduces risks: if the bridge is hacked, the wrapped tokens become worthless. Thorchain takes a fundamentally different approach.

No Wrapped Tokens

Thorchain uses native assets throughout. When you swap ETH for BTC, you receive real BTC at your Bitcoin wallet address, not WBTC or a synthetic.

Decentralized Validators

A permissionless network of node operators (bonded with RUNE) monitors and executes swaps. No single entity controls the vaults.

Atomic Swaps

Every swap either completes fully or is refunded. Your funds never get stuck in an intermediate state between chains.

Real-Time Pricing

ChainBridge fetches live quotes from Thorchain's Thornode API, showing you the exact output amount, fees, and estimated time before you swap.

How Thorchain Swaps Work

Under the hood, Thorchain uses a clever combination of liquidity pools and cross-chain observation to facilitate swaps.

1

Continuous Liquidity Pools

Thorchain maintains liquidity pools for each supported asset, paired with RUNE (the native Thorchain token). A swap from ETH to BTC goes through two pools: ETH/RUNE and RUNE/BTC. This dual-pool design means any asset can be swapped for any other asset.

2

Validator Network

A decentralized network of validators (called "node operators") monitors transactions on all supported chains. When you deposit ETH into the Thorchain vault, validators observe the deposit and trigger the swap process.

3

Atomic Execution

The swap is all-or-nothing: either you receive the output asset at your destination address, or your input asset is refunded. There is no risk of funds getting stuck mid-swap, unlike some bridge solutions.

4

Native Asset Delivery

The output is always the native asset on the destination chain. When you swap ETH for BTC, you receive real BTC at your Bitcoin address, not a wrapped or synthetic version.

Supported Assets

Thorchain supports native assets on 8 blockchains. Any asset can be swapped for any other asset through the RUNE pool pairs.

Bitcoin (BTC)

BTC.BTC

The original cryptocurrency. Swap native BTC without wrapping or bridging.

Ethereum (ETH)

ETH.ETH

Native ETH plus ERC-20 tokens (USDC, USDT, WBTC, DAI) via the Thorchain router.

Dogecoin (DOGE)

DOGE.DOGE

The popular meme-turned-payments cryptocurrency. Swap native DOGE directly.

Litecoin (LTC)

LTC.LTC

Faster block times than Bitcoin. Swap native LTC without intermediaries.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

BCH.BCH

Bitcoin fork optimized for payments. Swap native BCH trustlessly.

BNB Chain (BNB)

BNB.BNB

Binance-developed chain. Swap native BNB cross-chain.

Avalanche (AVAX)

AVAX.AVAX

High-throughput chain. Swap native AVAX cross-chain.

Cosmos (ATOM)

GAIA.ATOM

The hub of the Cosmos ecosystem. Swap native ATOM.

Fees & Estimated Times

Thorchain charges fees that are displayed transparently in every quote. ChainBridge shows you the exact breakdown before you confirm.

Liquidity Fee

A fee proportional to the swap size relative to pool depth. Larger swaps in smaller pools pay higher fees. Typically 0.1-0.5% for standard sizes.

Outbound Fee

The gas cost for sending the output transaction on the destination chain. Varies by chain (BTC is higher, DOGE is lower).

Affiliate Fee

ChainBridge charges 0% affiliate fees on all Thorchain swaps. The full output goes to you.

Estimated Time

Cross-chain swaps typically take 10-60 minutes depending on the chains involved. BTC takes longer due to confirmation requirements.

Security Considerations

  • Always double-check your destination address. Cross-chain transactions are irreversible.
  • Start with a small test transaction when using Thorchain for the first time.
  • Thorchain has a minimum swap amount. Quotes below the minimum will show a warning.
  • Cross-chain swaps take time. Be patient and monitor the transaction status.

Swap Native Assets Cross-Chain

Trade real BTC, ETH, DOGE, LTC, and more with live Thorchain quotes. No wrapped tokens, no bridges, no custodians.

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