Mainnet and testnets are two important terms used by cryptotraders. Many investors are carefully following the stages of a project to detect the dates in which their testnets and mainnet will be released. Therefore, in order to be a successful cryptotrader, and properly manage the fundamental analysis, is your duty to know the difference between the two terms.
When a Mainnet is deployed, we are talking about the release of the blockchain protocol developed as a whole. The Mainnet (a short version of “Main Network”) will officially allow users to do cryptocurrencies transactions by using the network.
On the other hand, when a team launches a testnet, the main chain of blocks is not yet fully developed and needs to be improved as the time goes by. Companies release the protocol to allow programmers and developers to troubleshoot all the features in order to improve the system.
Here are a few key differences you must take into account:
The main purpose of the Testnet is to build a testing environment, while the single most important goal of the mainnet is to deliver functionality.
The transactions made on a testnet are not valid, they are fake transactions being made to see if the system can work on its full capacity. Transactions made on the Mainnet are real and are going to be stored on the actual chain of blocks.