**News Flash: Runes Protocol Faces Decline on Bitcoin Network**

- The Runes protocol, once a dominant force on the Bitcoin network, has seen a significant drop in transactions since its peak in April 2024.

- Initially, Runes boasted over 753,000 transactions in a single day, accounting for more than 81% of Bitcoin's total transactions.

- Despite a strong start, interest waned, with a sharp decline in July and a transaction share falling below 10% by December.

- The downturn aligns with a broader NFT market slump, as digital collectible sales hit lows not seen since 2021.

- Runes managed over 15 million transactions in its first four months, but its future remains uncertain amidst declining interest.