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Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain saw a significant 99% drop in daily transactions within 30 days of the Bitcoin Runes protocol launch, decreasing from 23,061 to just 157 transactions.
Current State of Bitcoin Runes
Launched on April 20, coinciding with Bitcoin’s fourth halving, the Runes protocol initially showed strong performance. However, recent data from Dune Analytics reflected a sharp decline, raising significant concerns.
Bitcoin Runes, launched less than 30 days ago, recorded a significant drop in activity. According to Dune Analytics, the daily number of newly mined Runes fell below 250 in the last six days, resulting in only 157 transactions recorded on Monday.
This represents a significant 99% decline compared to the peak of 23,061 RUNE transactions in late April.
The protocol, launched to coincide with Bitcoin’s fourth halving, initially sparked excitement among cryptocurrency enthusiasts. It was hailed as a new benefit for the network by enabling memecoins, NFTs, and multimedia content to be directly processed on Bitcoin’s blockchain.
In the first 10 days, over 85,000 tokens were issued, generating more than $3 million in fees. During a period when the latest halving reduced the block subsidy to 3.125 BTC (approximately $196,800 at current rates), the high volume of Runes transactions significantly supported miners’ revenues.
Initially, other fees on the blockchain accounted for only 22.7% of total fees. However, things have changed since then. The share of other fees has risen to 78.9%, while Runes now only accounts for 21.1%.
Glassnode shared data confirming the event (above). On May 11, miners’ revenue was at 533.69 BTC, showing a significant decline compared to 1677.09 BTC on April 20. This decline may parallel the reduced activity in the Runes protocol.
Over the past two weeks, all metrics, including fees, new Runes, and user activity, have dropped by more than 50%. Since May 1, only about 5,000 new Runes have emerged, generating just under $100,000 in fees.
Looking Ahead at Runes’ Future
The decline in Runes activities is not isolated but also linked to broader market trends. According to data from Santiment, Bitcoin’s network activity has dropped to its lowest level in five years, indicating reduced trader interest and potential market concerns.
Additionally, general sentiment towards cryptocurrency developments, such as spot Bitcoin ETFs, has reflected a decline in interest, with transaction volumes decreasing and some funds exiting.
Despite these challenges, it is too early to deem the Runes protocol a failure. According to Rodarmor, the creator of Runes, who spoke at a recent Ordinals event, new developments that could revitalize the protocol are ongoing.
