Bitcoin transaction fees have reached a multi-month record high

Due to the frenzy of activity on the new Runes protocol, Bitcoin has seen record payments live in its fourth half of the event.

After months of inactivity, Runes activity is seeing a significant resurgence.

Return of Bitcoin Runes levels

The latest data compiled by IntoTheBlock shows that the number of Bitcoin Runes transfers has tripled since hitting a low point in August. This renewed interest has had a direct impact on Bitcoin trading fees, which have surged more than 32% this week, marking their highest level since August.

The increase in fees suggests an increase in demand for blockchain, with Bitcoin miners benefiting from a collective $5 million in transaction fees in the past week, according to a crypto analytics platform.

Alchemy, a decentralized capital markets protocol, recently measured the impact of Runes activity on the Bitcoin network and stated that Runes transactions have increased in the past week, occupying more than 50% of the blockchain space.

This increase in activity has resulted in a significant increase in payouts, with the average BTC average payout going from 7.944 sat/vB to 13.111 sat/vB – up roughly 65% ​​in one day. Alchemy observed four distinct spikes in charge rates, with the highest average charge rate reaching 50 sat/vB, all associated with four different Runes minnts.

The hype has faded but the use continues

The Runes protocol was launched in April of this year with the Bitcoin halving at block 840,000, aiming to boost on-chain activity. Created by Casey Rodermore, the brains behind Ordinals, Runes allows users to create their own symbols on the Bitcoin network. This protocol is designed to improve upon the BRC-20 standard, which is known for its precious token creation and management processes.

In Bitcoin's half-day, Runes generated more than $62 million in revenue, contributing $81 million to the day's total transaction fees, up from the average fee per transaction of $128. In the first week after the protocol's launch, Runes-driven transactions dominated the Bitcoin network. However, activity on the Runes Protocol decreased significantly in the following weeks, despite continued use.

In September, Bitcoin Runes exceeded 50 million inscriptions – this figure was achieved less than five months after its launch.