Bond $RUNE to a Node

The node operator whitelists your RUNE address to their node. You then bond your RUNE to that node using any supported interface. After that, the node operator manages everything. You don't need to do anything else to start earning yield.

100 bond providers per node.

Watch the how-to videos above for step-by-step instructions across all supported interfaces and wallets.

Yes. You can add more RUNE to your bond at any time while the node is in the active validator set. You just can't withdraw until the node churns out.

You can only unbond when the node is churned out of the active validator set. When that happens depends on your arrangement with the node operator, therefore it’s something to agree on before bonding. If an operator is unresponsive or refuses to churn out on request, you'll have to wait until the node is removed naturally (by age, performance, or bond size) or petition two-thirds of the nodes to force it out.

No. Your RUNE never leaves your address. When you bond, the RUNE stays at your address and only you hold the private keys. The node operator cannot access your tokens.

Never share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone. Anyone asking for them is attempting to scam you. If this happens, report it to the community on Telegram or Discord so others can be warned.

Yes. The same RUNE address can be bonded to as many different nodes as you like.

If the node is active and you want to stay bonded but change addresses, you don't need to wait for a churn. Ask the node operator to whitelist your new address, then use the REBOND command to move your RUNE from the old address to the new one.

Node operators take a percentage of the rewards their node generates. Node operators set their own rates so confirm the fee with your node operator before bonding. The typical fee is 20%. Nothing is taken from your bond principal, only from the yield generated by the node.

Current annualized APR is available on the Nodes tab in THORChain Explorer. The yield is variable as it depends on network fees, which fluctuate with trading volume.

Rewards are distributed after every churn (approximately 3 days). They are added directly to your bond principal on the node and continue to compound. You cannot withdraw them until the node churns out of the active validator set.

A churn occurs approximately every 3 days. Churns can be delayed if there's a bug with vault retirement or if nodes halt the churn process to implement a security update. In those cases, the delay is typically a couple of weeks.

Yes. Every churn, the protocol automatically removes three nodes: the oldest node in the network, the node with the most slash points (worst performance), and the node with the lowest bond. Nodes running outdated software are also churned out. Additionally, two-thirds of active nodes can vote to force out a node they believe is unresponsive or acting against the network's interests.

It depends on the size of your bond. Bond providers with more than 300,000 RUNE can issue a LEAVE command independently of the node operator to force the node to churn out. Bond providers with less than 300,000 RUNE must rely on the node operator to churn the node out.

If you want to stay bonded, do nothing. The node will re-enter the queue to churn back in. If you want to unbond, do so before the next churn (within 3 days) before the node re-enters the network.

The primary interface is bond.thorchain.org

You can also manage your bond through Asgardex, THORSwap, THORWallet, and Vultisig.

Yes, there are a few listed further up the page in the ‘Track your Bond’ section.

Slash points are penalties assigned when a node is slow to observe or validate transactions. Typically due to hardware, connectivity, or power issues. They reduce the node's yield during that churn period and reset after every churn. Your bond principal is not at risk from these slash points, only the rewards accumulated during the affected period.

Not necessarily. All nodes accumulate some slash points - they're unavoidable. What matters is your node's relative performance compared to others. You can compare slash points across all active nodes on THORChain Explorer.

Yes, there are two ways your bond principal can get slashed.

Double sign - if it is observed that a single validator node is committing blocks on multiple chains.

Unauthorized transaction - if a node sends funds without authorization, the bond is slashed 1.5x the value of the stolen funds. The slashed bond is dumped into the pool(s) where the funds were stolen and added to the reserve.

There are several risks to understand before bonding:

Illiquidity - Your RUNE is locked until the node churns out. In normal conditions that's around 3 days, but can extend to a couple of weeks during a network halt.

Reduced yield from poor performance - A node with high slash points earns less. Your principal is safe, but your APR will be lower than a well-managed node.

Uncooperative node operator - An operator can refuse to churn out on request, or raise their fee without your consent. In either case, your options are limited to the node exiting naturally or being voted out.

Node operator collusion - In the most extreme scenario, a group of node operators could collude to steal from the network. This would put bond principal at risk and cause a collapse in RUNE's price, affecting everyone in the ecosystem, not just those bonded to the colluding nodes. For this reason, bond providers should have some kind of legal or social relationship with their node operator. It's fine to remain anonymous to the broader network, but you and your operator should not be strangers to each other.