Xverse wallet releases guide on Runes, preps for Bitcoin halving

Xverse Wallet introduces a detailed guide on Bitcoin Runes, providing insights into efficient token management on the Bitcoin blockchain post-halving.

According to a guide from Xverse Wallet, Runes are fungible tokens issued on Bitcoin (BTC) using the Runes protocol. Casey Rodarmor introduced Runes last year as a streamlined alternative to the BRC-20 standard.

The protocol aims to avoid network congestion by preventing junk UTXOs. Supported robustly by the community, the first Rune token, RUNE, was issued immediately after the announcement, with further developments, including a significant grant and a new issuance tool.

As the halving approaches, the anticipation surrounding the Runes ecosystem intensifies.

The guide states, “Bitcoin builders are already gearing up for the launch by building the supporting infrastructure for Runes tokens,” highlighting the growing interest and development within the sector.

Runes marketplaces and launchpads, such as Magic Eden and BitX, allow users to trade and launch various Rune-related tokens. Platforms like Fluid Tokens are also developing decentralized applications for lending runes, underscoring the ecosystem’s expanding functionality and utility.

“Runes has a minimal on-chain footprint and improves overall efficiency,” the guide explained, contrasting the BRC-20 tokens derived from Ordinal Theory, not native to Bitcoin, which increase network congestion due to UTXO proliferation.

Integrating Bitcoin’s UTXO model, the Runes protocol operates on Bitcoin Layer 1, enhancing base blockchain interaction without excessive UTXO production. Unlike BRC-20, Runes also penalizes errors by burning tokens, ensuring careful UTXO management.

Many Ordinal and BRC-20 projects allow investors and holders to accumulate Runes by a runic miner, giving them the power to invest in this new technology before its launch. Runestone, a BRC-20 project, airdropped 100,000 tokens to the Ordinals community which currently sits at 0.078 BTC floor, the equivalent of $5,100, and will allow its holders to accumulate Runes.