<p>yes,very easy, you can use mainstream bitcoin client:bitcoin core, here is how:</p>

<pre>
start server: 
    bitcoind -regtest -daemon or bitcoind -regtest -printtoconsole
    you will find a regtest folder generated somewhere, example on ubuntu it's ~/.bitcoin/regtest
client: 
    generate blocks:  bitcoin-cli -regtest generate 101 (101 is because when you start this private chain, initially no blocks there and wallet balance is 0, and coinbase reward can only be spent after 100 confirm)
    checkbalance: bitcoin-cli -regtest getbalance
    others:
    bitcoin-cli -regtest getblockcount
    bitcoin-cli -regtest getblockhash 0
</pre>

<blockquote>
  <p>Bitcoin Core’s regression test mode (regtest mode) lets you instantly create a brand-new private block chain with the same basic rules as testnet—but one major difference: you choose when to create new blocks, so you have complete control over the environment.--<a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testnet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testnet</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/gXlkD.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gXlkD.png" alt="~/.bitcoin/regtest"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-17T08:24:21.643Z
2019-01-17T08:24:21.643Z
LIU YUE
<p>When run with no arguments, all Bitcoin Core programs default to Bitcoin’s main network (mainnet). However, for development, it’s safer and cheaper to use Bitcoin’s test network (testnet) where the satoshis spent have no real-world value. Testnet also relaxes some restrictions (such as standard transaction checks) so you can test functions which might currently be disabled by default on mainnet.</p>

<p>To use testnet, use the argument -testnet with bitcoin-cli, bitcoind or bitcoin-qt or add testnet=1 to your bitcoin.conf file as described earlier. To get free satoshis for testing, use Piotr Piasecki’s testnet faucet. Testnet is a public resource provided for free by members of the community, so please don’t abuse it.</p>

<p><a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testing-applications" rel="nofollow">https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testing-applications</a></p>

<p>If you need absolutely private network - just made it. Run a few clean wallets on few computers, generate bitcoins and so on.. It will be incompatible with bitcoin network, but will be completely functional in your private local network.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-25T05:46:52.810Z
Because of the checkpoints built in to the Bitcoin Core software, your suggestion to "just run a few clean wallets on a few computers" won't work unless you patch the source to remove the checkpoints.  Also, by default those wallets will try to sync with the main Bitcoin network, so you'll need to prevent that from happening.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-30T06:45:01.180Z
I wrote "absolutely private network" - it means (I think) isolated  local network.
xbtc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-24T18:38:59.523Z
a simple recipe for bitcoin-testnet-box
This is a private, difficulty 1 testnet in a box. https://github.com/greenaddress/bitcoin-testnet-box
xbtc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-25T03:29:58.867Z
2015-12-25T03:47:16.883Z
2015-12-25T03:47:16.883Z
xbtc
<p>For development or test purpose, is it possible to setup a bitcoind as a private bitcoin blockchain?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-25T05:45:07.583Z
Do you know about regtest mode?
Nate Eldredge
<bitcoind>
Is it possible to use bitcoind as a private blockchain?
Satoshi Nakanishi
# Is it possible to use bitcoind as a private blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-25)

For development or test purpose, is it possible to setup a bitcoind as a private bitcoin blockchain?

**Tags:** bitcoind

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you know about regtest mode?  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-17. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

yes,very easy, you can use mainstream bitcoin client:bitcoin core, here is how:

```

start server: 
    bitcoind -regtest -daemon or bitcoind -regtest -printtoconsole
    you will find a regtest folder generated somewhere, example on ubuntu it's ~/.bitcoin/regtest
client: 
    generate blocks:  bitcoin-cli -regtest generate 101 (101 is because when you start this private chain, initially no blocks there and wallet balance is 0, and coinbase reward can only be spent after 100 confirm)
    checkbalance: bitcoin-cli -regtest getbalance
    others:
    bitcoin-cli -regtest getblockcount
    bitcoin-cli -regtest getblockhash 0

```

> Bitcoin Core’s regression test mode (regtest mode) lets you instantly create a brand-new private block chain with the same basic rules as testnet—but one major difference: you choose when to create new blocks, so you have complete control over the environment.--<https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testnet>

[![~/.bitcoin/regtest](https://i.sstatic.net/gXlkD.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/gXlkD.png)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-12-25. Score: 3

When run with no arguments, all Bitcoin Core programs default to Bitcoin’s main network (mainnet). However, for development, it’s safer and cheaper to use Bitcoin’s test network (testnet) where the satoshis spent have no real-world value. Testnet also relaxes some restrictions (such as standard transaction checks) so you can test functions which might currently be disabled by default on mainnet.

To use testnet, use the argument -testnet with bitcoin-cli, bitcoind or bitcoin-qt or add testnet=1 to your bitcoin.conf file as described earlier. To get free satoshis for testing, use Piotr Piasecki’s testnet faucet. Testnet is a public resource provided for free by members of the community, so please don’t abuse it.

<https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#testing-applications>

If you need absolutely private network - just made it. Run a few clean wallets on few computers, generate bitcoins and so on.. It will be incompatible with bitcoin network, but will be completely functional in your private local network.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Because of the checkpoints built in to the Bitcoin Core software, your suggestion to "just run a few clean wallets on a few computers" won't work unless you patch the source to remove the checkpoints.  Also, by default those wallets will try to sync with the main Bitcoin network, so you'll need to prevent that from happening.  
> **username_3**: I wrote "absolutely private network" - it means (I think) isolated  local network.  
> **username_3**: a simple recipe for bitcoin-testnet-box This is a private, difficulty 1 testnet in a box. https://github.com/greenaddress/bitcoin-testnet-box  

---

