The Testnet and Mainnet, which are among the most important concepts for blockchains, are significant transition points for cryptocurrency projects. These two concepts serve entirely different purposes. Let’s first take a look at these concepts and then why the transition from a Testnet to a Mainnet is so important for projects.
What Is a Testnet?
A Testnet refers to a blockchain that is created by developers for testing purposes and is an alternative before transitioning to a Mainnet. In a Testnet, developers can try all features of the network, check the operability, and observe issues that are likely to occur. Thus, all problems that may lead to irreversible results in the Mainnet are observed in advance at the Testnet stage. Transactions made in the Testnet are not reflected in the Mainnet in any way. Developers and Testnet users can make transactions with any balances and try all features of the network. No unit has any economic value on the Testnet. That’s why, Testnet is a stage where developers can observe any errors and issues without the risk of losing capital.
What Is a Mainnet?
When a cryptocurrency project that does not have its own blockchain and operates on another network creates its own network, this network is called a Mainnet. For example, if a cryptocurrency in ERC-20 standard on the Ethereum network stops working on the Ethereum network and creates its own blockchain or network, it means that the project has moved to the Mainnet. After completing the trials on the Testnet, if it's approved, the cryptocurrency project migrates to the Mainnet. For a cryptocurrency project, a Mainnet is the final product as a result of all testing phases. Therefore, it is vital that it operates without any errors.
Why Is the Transition to Mainnet Important for Projects?
Today, many cryptocurrency projects work on the Ethereum network. The digital assets of these cryptocurrency projects, which do not have a Mainnet and work on another network, are called Tokens. The digital assets of cryptocurrency projects that have their own networks or blockchains are called Coins. That is why digital assets are called Tokens or Coins. So, why is it important for a cryptocurrency project to move to its own Mainnet?
Cryptocurrency projects working on a different network than their own can operate within the limits of that network. For example, a cryptocurrency project working on the Ethereum network can use the features that Ethereum provides. It cannot go beyond these features. Cryptocurrency projects that build their own networks or have their own blockchains set the standards themselves and have many features in terms of transaction speed, costs, scalability and smart contracts. The transaction per second (TPS) of an ERC-20 token running on the Ethereum network varies depending on the capacity and the density of the Ethereum network. In addition, transaction fees depend on the network. For cryptocurrency projects that have their own networks, TPS, transaction fees and many other features can be customized.
Aside from the technical aspect, the transition from the Testnet to the Mainnet means that the team aims to progress and improve the project. The project team, which is one of the factors to consider when evaluating a project, should boost the trust of investors and users with the improvements. Switching to the Mainnet also means that the project is progressing to build a functional network and has the goal of creating its own ecosystem.
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