Devnet & Testnet Blockchains
While developing blockchain applications, there is a need for development and testing environments that simulate the mainnet without the risk of using real assets. These environments allow developers to test smart contracts, dApps, and other blockchain applications safely.
Table of Contents
- What are Devnets and Testnets?
- MultiversX Networks
- Ethereum Networks
- Solana Networks
- Network Comparison
- Getting Test Tokens
- Best Practices
What are Devnets and Testnets?
Devnet (Development Network)
- Purpose: Closely mirrors the mainnet for development and testing
- Stability: More stable than testnet, resets less frequently
- Use Case: Primary development environment for most projects
Testnet (Testing Network)
- Purpose: Used for testing network upgrades and new features
- Stability: May reset more frequently, less stable than devnet
- Use Case: Testing upcoming releases and network changes
MultiversX Networks
MultiversX Devnet
Purpose: Primary development environment for MultiversX applications
Features:
- Closely mirrors mainnet functionality
- Stable environment for development
- Regular resets for clean testing
- Full smart contract support
Access:
- Explorer: devnet-explorer.multiversx.com
- Wallet: devnet-wallet.multiversx.com
- Gateway:
https://devnet-gateway.multiversx.com - Chain ID:
D
Configuration:
mxpy config set proxy https://devnet-gateway.multiversx.com
mxpy config set chainID D
MultiversX Testnet
Purpose: Testing environment for network upgrades and new features
Features:
- More experimental than devnet
- Used for testing protocol upgrades
- May have different features than mainnet
- Less frequent resets than devnet
Access:
- Explorer: testnet-explorer.multiversx.com
- Wallet: testnet-wallet.multiversx.com
- Gateway:
https://testnet-gateway.multiversx.com - Chain ID:
T
Configuration:
mxpy config set proxy https://testnet-gateway.multiversx.com
mxpy config set chainID T
Ethereum Networks
Sepolia Testnet (Recommended)
Purpose: Primary testnet for Ethereum application development
Features:
- Stable environment for testing
- Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism
- Similar to mainnet in functionality
- Long-term support
Access:
- Explorer: sepolia.etherscan.io
- RPC URL:
https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY - Chain ID:
11155111 - Currency Symbol:
ETH
Configuration:
// MetaMask or other wallet
Network Name: Sepolia test network
RPC URL: https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY
Chain ID: 11155111
Currency Symbol: ETH
Block Explorer: https://sepolia.etherscan.io
Holesky Testnet
Purpose: Testing validation and staking features
Features:
- Focus on validator testing
- Staking protocol testing
- Network upgrade testing
- More experimental than Sepolia
Access:
- Explorer: holesky.etherscan.io
- RPC URL:
https://holesky.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY - Chain ID:
17000 - Currency Symbol:
ETH
Goerli Testnet (Deprecated)
Purpose: Legacy testnet (being phased out)
Status: Deprecated in favor of Sepolia and Holesky Note: Still functional but not recommended for new projects
Solana Networks
Solana Devnet
Purpose: Primary development environment for Solana applications
Features:
- Closely mirrors mainnet
- Stable for development
- Regular airdrops available
- Full program support
Access:
- Explorer: explorer.solana.com/?cluster=devnet
- RPC URL:
https://api.devnet.solana.com - Currency Symbol:
SOL
Configuration:
solana config set --url https://api.devnet.solana.com
Solana Testnet
Purpose: Testing network upgrades and new features
Features:
- Used by Solana core team
- Testing upcoming releases
- Network performance testing
- Validator behavior testing
Access:
- Explorer: explorer.solana.com/?cluster=testnet
- RPC URL:
https://api.testnet.solana.com - Currency Symbol:
SOL
Configuration:
solana config set --url https://api.testnet.solana.com
Solana Localnet
Purpose: Local development environment
Features:
- Runs on your local machine
- Complete control over the environment
- No network dependencies
- Perfect for unit testing
Configuration:
solana-test-validator
solana config set --url localhost
Network Comparison
| Feature | MultiversX Devnet | MultiversX Testnet | Ethereum Sepolia | Ethereum Holesky | Solana Devnet | Solana Testnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Development | Testing | Development | Staking Testing | Development | Network Testing |
| Stability | High | Medium | High | Medium | High | Medium |
| Reset Frequency | Regular | Less Frequent | Rare | Rare | Regular | Less Frequent |
| Faucet Available | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Explorer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wallet Support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart Contracts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recommended for | Most Development | Protocol Testing | Most Development | Validator Testing | Most Development | Core Testing |
Getting Test Tokens
MultiversX Faucets
Devnet Faucet:
- Visit devnet-wallet.multiversx.com/faucet
- Connect your wallet or create a new one
- Request testnet eGLD tokens
CLI Faucet:
mxpy wallet faucet --proxy https://devnet-gateway.multiversx.com
Ethereum Faucets
Sepolia Faucets:
- Alchemy: sepoliafaucet.com
- QuickNode: faucet.quicknode.com/ethereum/sepolia
- Chainlink: faucets.chain.link/sepolia
Holesky Faucets:
- Holesky Faucet: faucet.holesky.ethpandaops.io
Solana Faucets
Web Faucet:
- Visit solfaucet.com
- Enter your wallet address
- Request test SOL tokens
CLI Faucet:
# For Devnet
solana config set --url https://api.devnet.solana.com
solana airdrop 2 <your-wallet-address>
# For Testnet
solana config set --url https://api.testnet.solana.com
solana airdrop 2 <your-wallet-address>
Best Practices
Development Workflow
- Start with Devnet/Testnet: Always begin development on test networks
- Use Local Networks: For unit testing, use local networks when possible
- Test Thoroughly: Comprehensive testing before mainnet deployment
- Monitor Network Status: Check for network maintenance or issues
Security Considerations
- Separate Wallets: Use different wallets for testnet and mainnet
- Never Mix Networks: Keep testnet and mainnet environments separate
- Verify Networks: Always double-check which network you're using
- Backup Testnet Keys: Even testnet keys should be backed up securely
Network Selection Guide
For Development:
- MultiversX: Use Devnet
- Ethereum: Use Sepolia
- Solana: Use Devnet
For Testing:
- MultiversX: Use Testnet for protocol testing
- Ethereum: Use Holesky for staking tests
- Solana: Use Testnet for network testing
Inspect the Networks
Explore these testnet explorers to see the differences:
MultiversX:
Ethereum:
Solana:
What to Observe
When inspecting these networks, notice:
- Transaction volumes: Testnets typically have lower activity
- Token values: All tokens are "fake" and have no real value
- Network features: Some features may differ from mainnet
- Block times: May be different from mainnet
- Gas fees: Usually much lower or free on testnets
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE
All tokens on devnets and testnets are "fake" tokens. They are only used to mock the real tokens on the mainnet and have no real value. Never send real cryptocurrency to testnet addresses, and never use testnet private keys for mainnet wallets.