ApeCoin Opens Otherside Access With Bitcoin Runestones Integration

ApeCoin Runestones Enter Otherside Metaverse:What About $APE Price?

ApeCoin has announced a new update that allows holders of the Runestones, a popular Bitcoin Ordinals collection, to claim playable 3D avatars for use inside the Otherside metaverse or game. The feature is live through the Terminus portal– a site that lets NFT holders convert collectibles into usable game characters, developed by Novel Productions, allowing eligible holders to mint avatars linked to their Runestones NFTs. 

Source: X Official

The process was tested publicly by Runestones creator Leonidas, with early users sharing gameplay clips shortly after launch. 

How Runestone Avatars Work in Otherside

Runestones were created in early 2024 and exist on Bitcoin using Ordinals technology, which allows NFTs to be attached directly to Bitcoin transactions. 

With the latest update, once claimed, the avatars can be used inside Otherside’s MMORPG environment, a platform where players explore a virtual world, complete missions, and interact with other users. 

With Runestones, players can explore social hubs, take part in quests, engage in combat, and mine in-game resources. As players progress, they earn experience points (XP), with some activities offering potential $APE rewards, the platform’s currency coin. 

This marks a direct bridge between Bitcoin Ordinals and Otherside’s gaming ecosystem, which operates on ApeChain.

Why This Integration Is Important: Expands Outside Ecosystem

This update connects two different blockchain ecosystems. Runestones come from Bitcoin, while Otherside runs on ApeChain, which is linked to Ethereum. Bitcoin-based NFTs used in a game built on another network, highlights the cross-chain working power of NFTs and also gives a wider idea to other networks also. 

The recent integration follows a series of similar additions made since late 2025, as Otherside continues adding more NFT collections in a similar way to increase its player base. Alongside Runestones, four new avatar sets from ApeChain-based projects were also introduced, each featuring exclusive lore available only to holders.

$APE Price Shows Limited Reaction

Despite the announcement, ApeCoin’s market price remained under pressure. As of today, $APE was trading between $0.1085, near all-time lows. Reports show the token is down more than 43% over the past 30 days, with no significant spike in volume tied to the Runestone news.

Source: CoinMarketCap

The weakness in $APE price is mainly driven by sector rotation, with capital moving out of high-beta altcoins as the Altcoin Season Index slid to 30. It also aligns with the broader market which is currently in extreme fear. 

Why the Update Still Matters

While the price impact was minimal, the move highlights a broader 2026 trend: NFTs shifting from static collectibles toward real in-game utility. By connecting Bitcoin Ordinals with a gaming ecosystem, ApeCoin and Otherside continue to experiment with cross-chain use cases that focus on long-term engagement rather than short-term hype. 

Note: The article above is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any financial advice.