Router Protocol to shut down and burn 303 million ROUTE tokens

Router Protocol, a cross-chain interoperability project, has announced it will shut down all operations by September 30, 2026. As part of the wind-down process, the project will permanently burn 303,333,198 ROUTE tokens held in its treasury, representing over 30% of its total maximum supply.

The decision follows two years of financial pressure characterized by weak revenue, limited access to capital, and scarce liquidity across the Web3 sector. The team noted that revenue from bridging services was insufficient to cover development and operating costs. Efforts to secure the project’s future through technology licensing, commercialization agreements, or finding a buyer were unsuccessful.

Market reaction to the announcement saw the price of ROUTE tokens drop approximately 50%, reaching a new all-time low. The project will wind down services gradually to allow users and trading platforms time to prepare for the closure.