Testnet

A Testnet describes a blockchain that isn’t fully operational and deployed to a production environment.

Testnets, as the name implies, are used strictly for prototyping or testing a blockchain protocol or project.

Testnets are great for troubleshooting bugs, testing all features of the blockchain, and confirming that the system is secure before launching to mainnet.

Since testnets are completely separate from the mainnet, they can run in parallel to the mainnet.

Testnets aren’t monetized, so no funds are at risk and no fees are paid.

Related Terms

Mainnet

Mainnet is a term used to describe a working, fully-operational blockchain. A mainnet network has been fully deployed and is in production, like the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains.

Network Fee

A fee you pay to a blockchain network for transferring a digital asset on that network. The fees go to the miners or validators of that blockchain network who win the right or are chosen by the validation mechanism to ultimately confirm your transactions and add to the blockchain.

Fork

When developers make changes to a blockchain, such as adding new blockchain functionality, correcting security issues, creating entirely new coins, or even changing the consensus protocol that governs how blocks are created and validated on a blockchain.

Soft Fork

In relation to blockchain technology, a soft fork involves introducing changes to a blockchain’s underlining protocol or software that are minor in nature. These software updates can take the form of new blockchain functionality, upgrades to network performance, enhancements that correct security issues, or even changes to the consensus rules that govern how blocks are created and validated on a blockchain. Forks are necessary for providing decentralized blockchains a way to make changes to the blockchain since there isn’t a central authority governing all aspects of blockchain development and evolution.

Cardano (ADA)

Cardano is a decentralized open-source blockchain platform built with proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus, offering smart contract capabilities, and using the native cryptocurrency ADA.