# Alkanes **What is Alkanes？** Alkanes is a token-based smart contract metaprotocol built on the protorunes framework using the protorunes standard, designed to enable smart contract functionality through a combination of WebAssembly (WASM) and UTXO-based transactions. \ **Key Features** * UTXO-Based Smart Contracts Alkanes leverages Bitcoin’s UTXO model to deploy smart contracts, embedding WASM code through inscriptions similar to Ordinals for on-chain execution. * WASM-Driven with Storage Optimization Contracts are written in Rust, compiled into gzip-compressed WASM binaries, and embedded in Bitcoin transactions to align with storage constraints. * Protorunes Framework Built on the Protorunes standard, inheriting design patterns from Ordinals and Runes, using a witness envelope to deploy WASM files and enable contract interactions. * Metashrew Open-Source Indexer for Contract State Tracking Integrates the open-source Metashrew indexer to track contract states, supporting real-time data access and validation on Bitcoin. **UniSat Product Support for Alkanes** * UniSat Wallet * UniScan * UniSat UTXO Management Tool * UniSat Marketplace Learn more: **Disclaimer:** The content of this document is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute (i) investment advice or recommendations, (ii) an offer, solicitation, or inducement to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Digital assets (including FTs and NFTs) are subject to market volatility, involve high risk, regulatory changes, and may depreciate in value. The information is provided "as is," and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please consult your legal, tax, or investment professionals to determine whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.unisat.io/misc/knowledge-base/alkanes.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.