THORChain Completes Monero Work, Awaits Node Rotation

A THORChain development update says the project has completed v3.21.1 development work for Monero (XMR), but the integration remains inactive. Before the network can test XMR swaps on mainnet, node operators must complete a churn, resume the node rotation and generate a new private key.

THORChain developer Chad Barraford estimated on Thursday, Nov. 5, that resuming the rotation could take at least a week and possibly two. Issues involving Solana and Base were holding up the process, according to the update.

The completed work advances THORChain’s earlier plan to address Monero support in v3.21.1. It does not activate XMR swaps, and it does not create a mainnet market for the asset. The remaining steps concern network operations rather than the Monero integration itself.

Once the rotation resumes and generates the key, THORChain can open a small mainnet pool with a few hundred dollars for test trades. The order is clear. Key generation comes first, and the small pool follows it rather than serving as the first step.

What has to happen before testing?

Node churn is the immediate prerequisite. In this process, the rotation must resume and produce the required private key before THORChain can move into mainnet testing. If either part slips, the test pool cannot open under the stated sequence.

At stake is a narrow test, not broad market access. The few hundred dollars in the proposed pool would support test trades after the key exists. Substantial liquidity is a separate decision, which node operators will make on their own timing.

That separation matters for interpreting the delay. The software work is finished, but the network’s node rotation has not resumed. Barraford’s estimate describes the time needed to restart that process, not a guaranteed date for test trades.

Why hold back substantial liquidity?

Barraford favored waiting to add substantial liquidity while the Binance theft remained in the headlines. Kenton said MarketAcross had offered similar advice. The update does not link the theft to the Monero integration; the stated reason for caution was the prominence of the theft.

The caution does not cancel the planned small pool. The larger liquidity decision and the few-hundred-dollar test pool run along separate tracks. Operators can proceed with the limited test after key generation while continuing to weigh a substantial addition.

What does this change for Monero users?

It moves the project closer to testing, but it does not yet enable XMR swaps or commit the network to substantial liquidity. The key fact is procedural: v3.21.1 is ready, while the node rotation and private-key generation remain outstanding.

The completed integration gives node operators a defined handoff. They now need to restart the stalled rotation, complete the key step and then determine how much liquidity to add. The first pool would remain small, regardless of any later decision on larger liquidity.

For traders and integrators, there is no confirmed swap date in the update. The practical signal is Barraford’s estimate of at least one week and possibly two to resume rotation. Test trades come later, after the new key, and the test pool itself would hold only a few hundred dollars.

THORChain’s next operational checkpoint is therefore clear. Operators must resume the rotation and generate the required key before mainnet testing can begin. If that work falls within Barraford’s estimate of at least one week and possibly two, a few-hundred-dollar pool and test trades would follow.