If you're trading Blast-native tokens and stumbled upon Thruster v2 with its 0.3% fee, you might be wondering: is this still a viable option in February 2026? The short answer? Thruster v2 is a relic. It’s not dead yet, but it’s barely breathing. Most serious traders have already moved on. If you’re still using it, you’re either stuck in the past or you’re doing very small, experimental trades.
What Exactly Is Thruster v2?
Thruster v2 is a decentralized exchange (DEX) built specifically for the Blast blockchain. Unlike centralized exchanges like Binance or Coinbase, it doesn’t hold your crypto. You trade directly from your wallet-usually MetaMask-using smart contracts. There’s no sign-up, no KYC, and no account. That’s the whole point of a DEX: you’re in full control.
Its only real feature? A flat 0.3% fee on every trade. That’s standard for many DEXs. But here’s the catch: Thruster v2 only supports about 14 tokens, all native to Blast. You won’t find Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even Solana here. Just Blast-based coins like USDB, WETH, and a handful of obscure tokens from early projects trying to gain traction.
Trading Volume? Barely There
As of November 2025, Thruster v2 was trading around $8,257 per day. That’s less than what a single active trader on Uniswap moves in five minutes. For comparison, Uniswap does over $1 billion daily. PancakeSwap does $450 million. Thruster v2? It’s a speck.
Even within the Blast ecosystem, it’s irrelevant. Thruster v3, its upgraded version, handles 73% of all trading volume on Blast. Other DEXs like X7 Finance and Blast DEX are eating into what’s left. Thruster v2? It’s under 0.5%. The numbers don’t lie-it’s being phased out.
Why the 0.3% Fee Doesn’t Matter
Yes, 0.3% is fair. SushiSwap charges the same. But here’s the problem: you’re not just paying a fee. You’re paying in slippage, time, and frustration.
On popular pairs like WETH/USDB, slippage is manageable. But try trading anything else-say, a new Blast token with $50,000 in liquidity-and you’ll get 5%, 8%, even 12% price impact. That’s not a fee. That’s a tax. And it’s because there’s no depth. No liquidity. No market makers.
Compare that to MM Finance on Arbitrum, which offers 0.00% maker/taker fees. Or to 1inch, which aggregates 200+ DEXs to find you the best price. Thruster v2 offers none of that. It’s a single pool. One route. No alternatives.
Who Even Uses This?
Based on on-chain data from Nansen, 82% of Thruster v2 users make five or more trades a day. That’s not long-term investors. That’s speculators chasing early Blast projects before they list on bigger exchanges. It’s also the group most likely to lose money.
Most of these users are experienced DeFi traders. They know how to bridge assets, import token contracts, and interpret gas fees. Beginners? They get stuck. One user on Trustpilot spent three hours trying to move ETH from Ethereum to Blast-only to realize they needed native Blast tokens to even start trading. There’s no guide. No hand-holding. Just a website with a connect wallet button.
The Setup Is a Nightmare for Newcomers
Using Thruster v2 isn’t just clicking a button. It’s a multi-step process:
- Bridge your ETH or USDC from Ethereum to Blast using the official portal (which sometimes fails).
- Wait 10-45 minutes for the transaction to confirm.
- Connect your MetaMask wallet to the Blast network.
- Manually add token contract addresses for any token not listed by default.
- Hope the contract isn’t a scam.
According to CryptoSlate, 22% of first-time users fail at the bridging step. And if you mess up? You lose gas fees. No customer service. No refund. Just a blockchain explorer and a cold sweat.
The learning curve? Rated 7.2 out of 10 by the DeFi Education Project. That’s harder than most centralized exchanges. And you’re not getting anything better in return.
Security? It’s Barebones
Thruster v2 hasn’t been audited. Not once. Not publicly. It runs on Blast, which inherits Ethereum’s security, but that doesn’t mean the smart contracts are clean. There’s no insurance fund. No bug bounty program. No public reports.
Some users swear by its simplicity. One Reddit user said they completed 12 trades in five minutes. But that’s only true if you’re trading WETH/USDB. Try anything else, and you’re gambling with untested code.
And if something goes wrong? Good luck finding help. Thruster’s official channels stopped updating after v3 launched. All support now lives in unofficial Telegram groups and Reddit threads.
Why Thruster v3 Is the Only Real Choice Now
Thruster v3 isn’t just an upgrade-it’s a different platform. It has:
- Multiple AMM models (concentrated liquidity, stable swaps)
- Treasure-ticket rewards for liquidity providers
- Lower slippage on most pairs
- Better UI and real-time charting
- Higher liquidity and volume
It’s still on Blast. Still 0.3% fee. But it’s functional. It’s alive. And it’s where the money is.
Thruster v2? It’s a ghost. A stepping stone that got left behind.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Use It Unless You Have to
Thruster v2 (0.3%) isn’t evil. It’s just obsolete. If you’re a Blast pioneer who’s been here since day one and you’re trading small amounts of WETH/USDB? Fine. Use it. But don’t expect it to work reliably. Don’t trust it with anything you can’t afford to lose.
If you’re new to Blast? Skip it. Go straight to Thruster v3. Or use X7 Finance. Or even Blast DEX. They’re faster, safer, and have more people trading.
The Blast Foundation itself confirmed in November 2025 that all development has shifted to v3. Thruster v2 is scheduled for deprecation in Q1 2026. That means no updates. No fixes. No support. Just a slowly fading server.
Don’t waste your time. Don’t waste your gas. Move on.
Is Thruster v2 still operational in February 2026?
Yes, Thruster v2 is still technically live as of February 2026, but it’s being phased out. The Blast Foundation confirmed in November 2025 that development has fully shifted to Thruster v3, and v2 is scheduled for deprecation in Q1 2026. While you can still connect your wallet and trade, expect no updates, no fixes, and no support. Liquidity is shrinking, and volume continues to drop.
Why is Thruster v2’s trading volume so low?
Thruster v2’s volume is low because it’s a single-chain DEX with limited token support and no advanced features. Most traders moved to Thruster v3, which offers better liquidity, multiple trading models, and improved UI. Plus, other Blast-native DEXs like X7 Finance and Blast DEX have gained traction. With only $8,257 in daily volume, it can’t compete with even the smallest DEXs on Ethereum or Arbitrum.
Is the 0.3% fee on Thruster v2 competitive?
The 0.3% fee is standard for DEXs, so technically yes. But in practice, no. You’re not just paying the fee-you’re paying in slippage, failed transactions, and wasted time. On popular pairs like WETH/USDB, it’s tolerable. On anything else, slippage can hit 10% or more. Other DEXs like MM Finance on Arbitrum offer 0.00% fees, and aggregators like 1inch find better rates across dozens of platforms.
Can I use Thruster v2 without bridging assets?
No. Thruster v2 only works on the Blast blockchain. You can’t trade Ethereum or USDC directly. You must first bridge your assets from Ethereum (or another chain) to Blast using the official Blast Bridge. This process takes 10-45 minutes and often fails for first-time users. Once bridged, you need native Blast tokens to trade on Thruster v2.
Is Thruster v2 safe to use?
It’s not unsafe in the sense of being a scam, but it’s not secure either. Thruster v2 has never been audited. There’s no insurance, no bug bounty, and no public security reports. It runs on Blast, which is built on Ethereum’s security, but that doesn’t guarantee the smart contracts are clean. If something goes wrong-like a failed trade or a contract glitch-you have no recourse. Only experienced DeFi users should consider using it.
