Bitcoin's recent halving has resulted in increased trading activity and transaction costs, with fees averaging over $70.

The Runes protocol's introduction on Bitcoin has led to the creation of meme coins, significantly boosting miner fees by over $80 million.

High transaction costs have amplified interest in layer 2 solutions like the Lightning Network, as users seek alternatives to expensive on-chain transactions.

There's a growing concern that high BTC fees could exclude users with smaller balances and that Lightning solutions might compromise user sovereignty and anonymity.

Bitcoin's progression into 'Epoch V' after the halving has placed a spotlight on the role of layer 2 solutions in its future development.

Bitcoin and Ethereum's prices have risen, trading at around $65,177.84 and $3,163.71, respectively, post-halving.

The halving has historically boosted the values of related assets, causing significant gains for crypto miners Riot Platforms, Cleanspark, and Bitcoin investor MicroStrategy.

Despite the positive trends in cryptocurrency, investors are advised to diversify, as not all crypto stocks are recommended as top buys by analysts.