<p>The one big difference between MainNet and TestNet is that TestNet exists at a whim of the developers. Currently we are at TestNet 3, meaning that the entire network was reset 2 times in the past.</p>

<p>If you try selling TestNet Bitcoins to other people, you might quickly find that the Bitcoin core development team will reset the TestNet and you will find yourself with a lot of worthless coins. From what I heard, that was one of the reasons TestNet was reset in the past - people started selling TN coins.</p>

<p>Since TestNet and MainNet use different net byte (0x6F rather than 0x00), means the addresses are incompatible with one another - you can't send TestNet Bitcoins to normal Bitcoin address. Even if such a transaction would be accepted (say, by using "pay to public key" script), the transaction itself would not penetrate from one network to another. In Bitcoin, a transaction is valid only if it is created from valid outputs (among many other things). Since a transaction from TestNet would reference an output that does not exist on the main Blockchain, the transaction would be invalid.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-30T19:32:09.690Z
2013-12-30T19:32:09.690Z
ThePiachu
<ol>
<li><p>Testnet bitcoins are less widely used in commerce than mainnet, and are not perceived as intended to be a currency.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, you're unlikely to fetch a significant price though.</p></li>
<li><p>The transaction will not be recognized as a valid transaction. It would essentially be an irrelevant jumble. In fact the client wouldn't allow you to send anything because the address won't match the format of the respective network.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-24T19:09:01.567Z
Testnet coins aren't durable. Sometimes, the bitcoins developers will ship a new testnet with a new bitcoin client. This will reset everybody's balance to 0 on the testnet. It's happened twice so far.
Nick ODell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-24T19:33:44.887Z
@NickODell: Interesting point, which leads to a philosophical discussion of "which is the *real* testnet"...
Meni Rosenfeld
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-15T20:37:19.667Z
Details about testnet reset: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9975/has-the-testnet-ever-been-reset
Nick ODell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-06T00:04:23.057Z
Also, if you're looking for testnet coins there are a number of faucets like this one -> http://tpfaucet.appspot.com/ (which also has a nice explanation of why you shouldn't sell testnet coins).
schellsan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-24T18:08:23.763Z
2013-06-15T20:24:43.563Z
2013-06-15T20:24:43.563Z
Meni Rosenfeld
<p>Other than what is listed <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Testnet" rel="noreferrer">in the wiki</a>, what is the difference between the two networks?  </p>

<p>Could you sell test Bitcoins for money if you could find someone willing to buy? </p>

<p>What would happen if you tried to send test Bitcoins to a 'real' account and vice versa?</p>

<testnet>
Difference between bitcoin and testnet, really
Chris Huang-Leaver
# Difference between bitcoin and testnet, really

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-24)

Other than what is listed [in the wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Testnet), what is the difference between the two networks?

Could you sell test Bitcoins for money if you could find someone willing to buy?

What would happen if you tried to send test Bitcoins to a 'real' account and vice versa?

**Tags:** testnet


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-02-24. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

1. Testnet bitcoins are less widely used in commerce than mainnet, and are not perceived as intended to be a currency.
2. Yes, you're unlikely to fetch a significant price though.
3. The transaction will not be recognized as a valid transaction. It would essentially be an irrelevant jumble. In fact the client wouldn't allow you to send anything because the address won't match the format of the respective network.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Testnet coins aren't durable. Sometimes, the bitcoins developers will ship a new testnet with a new bitcoin client. This will reset everybody's balance to 0 on the testnet. It's happened twice so far.  
> **username_2**: @username_3: Interesting point, which leads to a philosophical discussion of "which is the *real* testnet"...  
> **username_3**: Details about testnet reset: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9975/has-the-testnet-ever-been-reset  
> **username_4**: Also, if you're looking for testnet coins there are a number of faucets like this one -> http://tpfaucet.appspot.com/ (which also has a nice explanation of why you shouldn't sell testnet coins).  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-30. Score: 5

The one big difference between MainNet and TestNet is that TestNet exists at a whim of the developers. Currently we are at TestNet 3, meaning that the entire network was reset 2 times in the past.

If you try selling TestNet Bitcoins to other people, you might quickly find that the Bitcoin core development team will reset the TestNet and you will find yourself with a lot of worthless coins. From what I heard, that was one of the reasons TestNet was reset in the past - people started selling TN coins.

Since TestNet and MainNet use different net byte (0x6F rather than 0x00), means the addresses are incompatible with one another - you can't send TestNet Bitcoins to normal Bitcoin address. Even if such a transaction would be accepted (say, by using "pay to public key" script), the transaction itself would not penetrate from one network to another. In Bitcoin, a transaction is valid only if it is created from valid outputs (among many other things). Since a transaction from TestNet would reference an output that does not exist on the main Blockchain, the transaction would be invalid.


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