The Many Networks

Welcome to the fourth post on the BeyondFaucet blog! In this post, we will go into detail about the different networks (e.g., mainnet, testnet) for the coins listed on the faucet and Ethereum.

Separate networks such as the testnet allow for another network separate from the mainnet (main network) to be used when developing applications as coins on the testnet are supposed to be worth nothing other than being valuable to developers when it comes to testing applications without risking real funds. There are also other test networks, specifically created for Bitcoin development. One such network is the Signet, which offers a unique compromise between the well-known testnet and regtest (explained later). Unlike the traditional testnet, the Signet allows developers to create a more individualized and controlled testing environment by using signatures for creating blocks removing the need for expensive mining equipment to keep the network running. There's also the regtest (Regression Test Network) on UXTO coins such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin which is used for benchmarking, but also allows developers to run their own local network for development. This is useful for testing applications which require regression testing.

Moving on, in the following sections of this post, we will list the different networks for each coin that's listed on BeyondFaucet and Ethereum. Most UXTO coins such as Litecoin and Dogecoin only have 2 public networks, the mainnet and testnet.

Bitcoin Networks

In this section we will cover some of the different networks of Bitcoin. The network names listed below are hyperlinked to their respective wiki/bitcoin.org entries.

Bitcoin Mainnet - The main and only network where Bitcoin (BTC) has tradable value.
Bitcoin Testnet - The well-known test network for developers testing applications that use Bitcoin which require a network that mimics the mainnet regarding mining, protocol, and transacting. The testnet is also the network used to test new consensus and chain rules (known as Bitcoin Improvement Proposals or BIPs) before they are deployed onto the mainnet.
Bitcoin Signet - A newer development network used by developers to test applications in a more controlled manner on a network that doesn't require traditional mining. The signet is known to be used to test interactions between other Bitcoin software and applications with different network rules, etc. This is useful for developers looking to test applications with more control over the actual network.
Regtest Mode - Known as the "Regression Test Network", the regtest is local/private network like the testnet, but only accessible locally, usually used to test benchmarks or applications where other peers are not needed. You generate blocks when needed by running a command.

Litecoin Networks

In this section we will cover some of the different networks of Litecoin.

Litecoin Mainnet - The main and only network where Litecoin (LTC) has tradable value.
Litecoin Testnet - Like the Bitcoin testnet, the Litecoin testnet is used by developers looking to test applications that use Litecoin, but don't want to risk any funds, and is used to test new consensus changes and protocols before deployment on the mainnet.
Regtest - Like the regtest mode on Bitcoin, the regtest network is used locally for testing applications on a private network.

Dogecoin Networks

In this section we will cover some of the different networks of Dogecoin.

Dogecoin Mainnet - The main and only network where Dogecoin (DOGE) has tradable value.
Dogecoin Testnet - Like the Bitcoin testnet, the Dogecoin testnet is used by developers looking to test applications that use Dogecoin, but don't want to risk any funds, and is used to test new consensus changes and protocols before deployment on the mainnet.
Regtest - Like the regtest mode on Bitcoin, the regtest network is used locally for testing applications on a private network.

Groestlcoin Networks

In this section we will cover some of the different networks of Groestlcoin. Some of the network names listed below are hyperlinked to their respective groestlcoin.org app lists if applicable.

Groestlcoin Mainnet - The main and only network where Groestlcoin (GRS) has tradable value.
Groestlcoin Testnet - Like the Bitcoin testnet, the Groestlcoin testnet is used by developers looking to test applications that use Groestlcoin, but don't want to risk any funds, and is used to test new consensus changes and protocols before deployment on the mainnet.
Groestlcoin Signet - Like the Bitcoin signet, the Groestlcoin signet is used by developers who want a realistic testnet, but with more control over how it functions to test their applications.
Regtest - Like the regtest mode on Bitcoin, the regtest network is used locally for testing applications on a private network.

Bitcoin Cash Networks

In this section we will cover some of the different networks of Bitcoin Cash. Some of the network names listed below are hyperlinked to their respective documentation entries.

Bitcoin Cash Mainnet - The main and only network where Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has tradable value.
Bitcoin Cash Testnet3 - Like the Bitcoin testnet, the Bitcoin Cash testnet is used by developers looking to test applications that use Bitcoin Cash, but don't want to risk any funds, and is used to test new consensus changes and protocols before deployment on the mainnet.
Bitcoin Cash Testnet4 - The Bitcoin Cash testnet4 is like its testnet3 counterpart but is a newer test network with a new genesis block as the testnet3 network has grown quite substantially in size.
Bitcoin Cash Scalenet - Like the notable Bitcoin Cash testnets 3 and 4, the Bitcoin Cash scalenet is a network created for developers to test the performance of their applications with what future scaling might look like which includes larger blocks and more transactions, and higher difficulty mining. It's harder to run a node for this test network due to the memory consumption the node would require.
Bitcoin Cash Chipnet - Like the testnet 3 and 4, the chipnet is used mainly by core developers to test new consensus improvements (also known as Cash Improvement Protocols) before they are deployed on all the other networks including the mainnet. This network is also used by developers to make sure their applications will still work following a new consensus protocol.
Regtest - Like the regtest mode on Bitcoin, the regtest network is used locally for testing applications on a private network.

Ethereum Networks

In this section we will cover some of the most notable active networks of Ethereum (there are a few others and documentation for them can be found here). Some of the network names listed below are hyperlinked to their respective documentation entries.

Ethereum Mainnet - The main and only network where Ethereum (ETH) has tradable value and where tokens and smart contracts (dapps) are deployed for production/release.
Sepolia - Sepolia is the recommended network for testing applications (dapps) as it's the newest testnet and is faster to sync than the other Ethereum testnets.
Local Development Networks - A network that developers can run locally and have full control over. There are a few different tools that allow you to run your own network for development such as Ganache.
There are a few couple of other testnets such as Goerli, but we haven't covered them as they are either depreciated or are going to be soon.

Conclusion

I hope you found this post covering the different networks to be useful! As always, remember that testnet coins have no value and the only network that holds tradable value is the mainnet! Each testnet serves their own purpose, but all are extremely helpful for developers for testing their applications as it allows them to do so without risking real funds. That’s also why this faucet exists as it’s a way to give back to developers so they will always have access to testnet coins when they need them.