The founder of Ordinals releases an introduction document for Runes

Bitcoin NFT protocol Ordinals founder Casey Rodarmor released the Runes introduction document. Runes allow Bitcoin transactions to etch, mint, and transfer native digital goods of Bitcoin. Although each inscription is unique, every unit of Rune is the same. They are interchangeable tokens suitable for various uses.

Rune protocol messages are called Runestones and are stored in Bitcoin transaction outputs. Runes are produced by etching. Etching creates a rune and sets its properties which once set, these properties cannot be changed.

Runestones may form improperly for various reasons; improperly formed runestones are referred to as "Monuments". The runes entered in transactions with "Monuments" will be burned.

"Monuments" serve as an upgrade mechanism that allows new semantics to be assigned to runestones, changing the way runes are created and transferred without misleading un-upgraded clients about their location because they will see these runes have been burned.