Mainnet is short for main network, and it describes the production blockchain that the public actually uses, as opposed to a testnet, which is a separate network used for experimentation. Once a project's mainnet is live, transactions recorded on it are treated as final and the tokens or coins involved carry real economic value, unlike test tokens which are worthless by design.
A mainnet launch is usually a significant milestone in a blockchain project's development, marking the move from internal testing and development to a live network that anyone can use. Before launch, a project typically runs one or more testnets to find bugs and refine the software under conditions that mimic the real network, without putting real funds at risk. This phased approach lets problems be found and fixed in a low-stakes setting, rather than discovered only after real money and real users are already involved.
A live mainnet is not necessarily frozen in place. Networks can still be upgraded after launch, through processes such as soft forks and hard forks, which change or add to the underlying rules while the chain of transaction history continues. How smoothly those upgrades happen depends on the coordination of the software clients and participants that keep the network running, and users are generally expected to update their software to stay compatible once a given upgrade takes effect.
Key takeaways
- Mainnet is the live, production blockchain where transactions and asset values are real.
- It is distinct from a testnet, which uses worthless tokens for testing and development.
- A mainnet can still evolve after launch through protocol upgrades such as forks.
Mainnet — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mainnet and testnet?
A testnet is a separate network used to test software changes with worthless tokens, and it can typically be reset. Mainnet is the permanent, live network where real assets and transaction history exist, and it is not simply reset if something goes wrong.
Does every crypto project have its own mainnet?
Many do, particularly independent blockchains, but plenty of tokens and applications instead run on top of an existing mainnet, such as Ethereum, rather than launching a separate blockchain of their own.
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