TLDR:
THORChain currently has 111 active nodes, each required to bond at least 300,000 RUNE.
Major software upgrades and economic changes require approval from two-thirds of active nodes.
Mimir allows nodes to adjust network parameters without requiring a full software upgrade.
THORChain automatically removes two nodes every three days and halts swaps during detected insolvency.
THORChain uses a node-based governance system to decide how its network evolves. The protocol currently has 111 active nodes, each holding at least 300,000 RUNE in bonded collateral.
Every node receives one vote, regardless of how much RUNE it commits. Most major decisions require approval from two-thirds of active nodes. This system gives network operators direct control over upgrades, economic parameters, and certain security measures.
According to THORChain, developers and community members can propose changes to its underlying software. These proposals move through public discussions before reaching nodes for approval. However, not every network decision follows the same voting requirements.
How THORChain Governance and Node Voting Work
THORChain’s governance process starts with THORNode, the software that each network node runs.
Developers and community members can suggest improvements through open discussions on Discord. Participants review these ideas and refine them before developers turn them into code.
Once a proposed change becomes ready, nodes decide whether to adopt the next software version. At least two-thirds of active nodes must approve the upgrade. With 111 active nodes, this requires at least 74 votes.
The system also gives nodes control over network parameters through Mimir. This mechanism allows operators to adjust settings without requiring every change to involve a software upgrade.
Economic decisions, including fee changes, require approval from two-thirds of nodes. Operational decisions, particularly those involving security, follow a lower voting threshold. Just three node votes can approve an operational Mimir setting.
However, reversing these decisions follows a separate process. Four nodes can vote to rescind an operational Mimir setting. Five votes can then counter that decision, creating a changing threshold for subsequent reversals.
This structure separates major economic decisions from operational adjustments. It also allows nodes to respond to security concerns without waiting for broader governance approval.
On THORChain, decisions are made directly on the blockchain. For an important change to be accepted, ⅔ of its nodes have to vote for it.
Right now, 111 nodes are active. They all bond at least 300,000 RUNE, put up as collateral to secure the network. Each node has one vote, no…
— THORChain (@THORChain) November 6, 2026
THORChain Security Rules Also Allow Automatic Network Actions
Not every THORChain decision requires a node vote. Some network processes follow predefined rules that automatically trigger specific actions.
One example is node rotation, which happens during each churn period. Churning occurs approximately every three days, when THORChain removes two nodes from the network. The protocol ejects the oldest active node and the node with the highest number of slash points.
Slash points track penalties accumulated by nodes for failing to meet network requirements. This mechanism helps maintain operational standards and encourages node operators to behave reliably.
THORChain also has an automatic safeguard against insolvency. If the network detects that its assets and liabilities no longer balance, it halts swapping activity.
This measure prevents users from continuing swaps while the protocol faces a potential solvency problem. Unlike governance proposals, the safeguard does not require node approval before activation.
Together, these mechanisms give THORChain a combination of community-driven governance, operator voting, and automated protections. The distinction matters because network upgrades, economic adjustments, and emergency responses require different levels of approval.
THORChain does not rely on RUNE holdings alone to determine governance power. Each active node receives one vote, while predefined rules handle certain operational and security decisions automatically.
The post THORChain Details Governance Rules for Network Upgrades and Fee Changes appeared first on Blockonomi .
