This podcast episode explores the Runes Protocol, a new token standard on Bitcoin that addresses the limitations of BRC20 tokens. The protocol allows users to create and send non-fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain using a UTXO model. Runes offers advantages such as eliminating UTXO proliferation, improving efficiency, and enabling cross-functionality with the Ordinal Theory client. The episode also discusses the impact of fungible token protocols on Bitcoin's blockspace and mining industry, the state of Bitcoin's mempool, potential use cases for runes, their intersections with Bitcoin, and the comparisons between Runes, Taproot Assets, and RGB. Additionally, it highlights the significance of the first rune etching and covers various topics in the cryptocurrency space.