<p>Yes, you will avoid downloading the mainnet blockchain that way.
If you only ever run your node software in regtest mode, it will just keep the regtest's chainstate and never even connect to the mainnet.</p>
<p>You may want to consider joining <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/17553/5406">signet</a> instead, if you do want to see some organic traffic.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-10T02:30:24.123Z
2023-03-10T02:39:57.457Z
2023-03-10T02:39:57.457Z
Murch
<p>I’d like a very light full node in a docker container used on developer laptop to establish the development environment.</p>
<p>If I install bitcoin core in Ubuntu in Docker and configure it to run in regtest mode, will I avoid downloading full mainnet blockchain this way? Or will it still download it in the background?</p>

<regtest>
Will bitcoin core in regtest mode still download and run mainnet blockchain?
Meglio
# Will bitcoin core in regtest mode still download and run mainnet blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-10)

I’d like a very light full node in a docker container used on developer laptop to establish the development environment.

If I install bitcoin core in Ubuntu in Docker and configure it to run in regtest mode, will I avoid downloading full mainnet blockchain this way? Or will it still download it in the background?

**Tags:** regtest


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-03-10. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Yes, you will avoid downloading the mainnet blockchain that way.
If you only ever run your node software in regtest mode, it will just keep the regtest's chainstate and never even connect to the mainnet.

You may want to consider joining [signet](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/17553/5406) instead, if you do want to see some organic traffic.


---

