> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://book.runesterminal.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://book.runesterminal.io/3.-runes/what-are-bitcoin-runes-for.md).

# What are Bitcoin Runes For?

Much like ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network, you can use Runes to launch any fungible token project you like. The only difference is that your runes project cannot rely on a complex [smart contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_contract). 

If you plan to create token-gated apps or decentralized governance platforms, Bitcoin Runes aren’t the asset type you want. However, they do show a lot of potential for the following uses: