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Ledger Integrates THORchain for Native cross-chain swaps

On October 21, 2024, Ledger, the prominent hardware wallet manufacturer, announced a significant integration with THORChain, enabling native cross-chain cryptocurrency swaps directly through the Ledger Live application. This development marks a notable advancement in decentralized trading capabilities for hardware wallet users.

The integration allows users to perform direct swaps between different cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), without relying on wrapped tokens or centralized exchanges. The supported networks extend beyond BTC and ETH to include assets like RUNE, ARB, SOL, DOT, and DOGE.

Key Benefits and Challenges:

  • Users can execute cross-chain trades while maintaining self-custody
  • Eliminates the need for transferring assets to centralized exchanges
  • Provides enhanced security through hardware wallet protection
  • However, the service comes with a relatively high fee of 1.42%

THORChain's Market Position:
The integration comes at a time when THORChain has established itself as a significant player in the cross-chain infrastructure space:

  • Current total value locked (TVL): $800 million
  • Total trading volume: $13.89 billion
  • Q3 2024 performance:
    • liquidity fees: $6.37 million
    • Peak daily trading volume: $284 million
    • Quarterly transaction volume: $8.17 billion
    • TVL growth: 12% increase
    • Affiliate earnings: $3.22 million

Most Popular Trading Pairs:

  1. BTC-ETH ($1.9 billion in volume)
  2. BTC-RUNE ($1.2 billion)
  3. Notable activity in BTC-USDT, ETH-RUNE, and ETH-USDT pairs

Market Impact:
The partnership carries significant potential for both parties. Ledger, with over 6 million devices sold worldwide, provides THORChain access to a substantial user base of security-conscious cryptocurrency holders. Previous integrations, such as THORChain's partnership with OKX wallet in August 2024, demonstrated the potential for such collaborations, having generated $320 million in swap volume.

Technical Capabilities:
THORChain operates as an open-source solution focusing on interoperability, privacy, and scalability. While it can process up to 5,000 transactions per second, this maximum capacity is rarely reached. The platform's emphasis on transparency and security aligns well with Ledger's focus on secure cryptocurrency storage.

The integration represents a strategic move in the evolving DeFi landscape, potentially positioning both Ledger and THORChain to capitalize on future market opportunities while providing users with enhanced trading capabilities within a secure environment.