THORChain Paused Its Network Due to Ecosystem Debt of Nearly $200M, RUNE Token Tanks Over 40%

On Jan. 24, THORChain announced via Twitter that it had paused its network due to excessive debt and leverage issues impacting its ecosystem.

THORChain announced on Jan. 24 via X that it had paused its network amid concerns over excessive debt and leverage impacting its ecosystem. The platform currently owes close to $200 million in ecosystem debt.

In the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi), ecosystem debt arises when a blockchain owes more tokens than it holds, a situation currently unfolding with THORChain. Such imbalances often stem from overambitious promises or mismanagement.

On the other hand, leverage risk manifests when users leverage their crypto assets as collateral to borrow against and bolster their positions. While leverage can amplify profits, it also heightens the potential for substantial losses if the market falters, which could trigger liquidations.

According to Blockbeats, THORChain has $97 million in borrowing liability and $102 million in depositor and synthetic asset liabilities. This financial imbalance has brought the blockchain to the brink of bankruptcy.

To address these concerns, THORChain is undertaking several measures. These risks have, in turn, affected the native token of THORChain (RUNE) with the RUNE token price facing massive selling volume, dropping over 40% in the last 24 hours on Jan 24. This situation has also led to a loss of confidence in the protocol, and the THORChain validators are currently voting on a restructuring plan.

There is no risk of death spiral, the features have been suspended. The majority of the selling volume is perp short sellers speculating it's going into a reflective negative cycle. The features that could send it in a downward reflective spiral are disabled and will be…

This restructuring plan will help stabilize the system and avoid more risk to the ecosystem. According to a THORChain core investor, TCB, risky lending and leverage features like ThorFi were highlighted as a primary cause of instability and have now been removed from the blockchain.

Without ThorFI's features, @THORChain would probably be a top 10 protocol. It's been a series of good news since streaming swaps launched that didn't even get noticed, it was an uninvestible asset and smart capital couldn't even touch it because of the complexity.

Moreover, the restructuring plan also includes efforts to regain users’ trust. Currently, integrations with wallets like Trust Wallet and Coinbase are enabling users to connect to THORChain, while liquidity providers would be ensuring liquidity to help the blockchain get back on its feet.

Risks associated with DeFi lendingMany within the crypto community earn passive income through DeFi lending, but these endeavors are not without their risks. In March 2020, MakerDAO incurred an ecosystem debt of $6.65 million. To service this debt, the platform had to mint and sell MKR tokens for over $4.5 million as part of its debt repayment strategy.

Overly complex features, such as excessive leverage, can destabilize protocols, underscoring the need for streamlined designs. Additionally, robust risk management systems must be in place to avert ecosystem debt and safeguard users’ funds.