Networks and practice

Monero runs on more than one network. One is real; the others exist so that people can learn and test without risking anything. This lesson shows how to tell them apart and how to use a test network to practise every step from the earlier lessons.

Three networks, one design

Each network is a complete, separate blockchain, with its own nodes, its own mempool, its own blocks and its own coins.

Network	What it is	Coins
Mainnet	The real Monero network	Real value
Stagenet	A public test network that follows mainnet's rules	No value
Testnet	A public test network used to try upcoming protocol changes	No value

For learning, stagenet is the one you want: it behaves like mainnet, so what you practise there works the same way on mainnet. Testnet is mainly for developers trying out changes to Monero itself.

text

   MAINNET   node ─ node ─ node      real coins       addresses start with 4
   STAGENET  node ─ node ─ node      no value         addresses start with 5
   TESTNET   node ─ node ─ node      no value
             (three chains that never mix)

How to tell which network you are on

The networks look alike on purpose, so learn the signs:

Address. A main address on mainnet starts with 4; on stagenet it starts with 5. Subaddresses use other first characters.
Node port. By default, monerod answers wallets and tools on port 18081 for mainnet, 38081 for stagenet and 28081 for testnet. To run a stagenet node you start it with monerod --stagenet.
The wallet tells you. In Kilonova, the Network switcher at the top of the Wallets screen picks the network, and the list shows only that network's wallets. On stagenet a strip reads Stagenet. These coins have no value., and Check before sending repeats This is a test network. These coins have no value. Test-network balances are never shown in a currency.

Kilonova also keeps the networks apart for you:

You try to	Kilonova says
Pay an address from another network	Not a valid address for this wallet's network
Sync from a node of another network	This node serves a different Monero network.

Nodes and light wallet servers are set per network, under Settings, Nodes and Light wallet servers. Kilonova bundles public nodes for all three networks.

A seed belongs to no network

The same seed restored on stagenet and on mainnet gives two different, unrelated wallets. A mainnet seed restored on stagenet shows an empty wallet. That has one important consequence:

DANGER

Practise with a seed you create only for practice, on stagenet. Never type the seed of a wallet that holds real funds into a practice session, a test app or a tutorial. If the seed leaks while you experiment, the real funds go with it.

Why practise first

A mistake on mainnet can cost real money and cannot be undone. On stagenet the same mistake costs nothing. So rehearse the things that matter most before you rely on them:

Practise	Why it matters	Covered in
Create a wallet and write down the seed	You learn to copy every word, in order, correctly	Lesson 1
Restore from your paper seed	Proves your backup works before you need it	The lab
Receive, then watch the payment confirm and unlock	You learn what normal waiting looks like	Lesson 2
Send, and read Check before sending	Builds the habit of checking address, amount and fee	Lesson 2
Switch between full sync and a light wallet server	You see what changes, and what the consent dialog says	Lesson 3
Make and open an encrypted backup	You know the passphrase works	Lesson 5

The restore is the most important line. A seed that was written down but never tested can hide a missing or misspelt word that you discover only when you need it. On stagenet you find out today, for free.

Getting stagenet coins

Stagenet coins have no value, so people give them away. A faucet is a website that sends a small amount of test coins to an address you paste in. Search for a public stagenet faucet, paste your stagenet Main address from Receive, and wait for the payment.

A faucet only ever needs your address. Never give a faucet, or anyone, your seed or keys.
Do not pay for test coins. Anyone asking money for "stagenet coins" is offering something worthless.
Check that the address you paste starts with 5. If it starts with 4, you are on mainnet.

Stay safe

Before you share an address, look at the Network switcher and the address's first character.
Keep practice and real wallets apart: different names, different seeds, and a paper seed clearly labelled STAGENET.
Kilonova is beta software that has not been audited. Its own advice is to try it on stagenet or testnet first.

In Kilonova

Networks: mainnet, stagenet and testnet
Beginner guide, which runs entirely on stagenet

Check yourself

QuizNetworks and practice

Question 1 of 6

Which Monero network is meant for learning and follows mainnet's rules, with coins that have no value?

Score: 0

What you learned

Mainnet has real value; stagenet and testnet are separate chains whose coins have none.
Address prefixes, node ports and the wallet's own labels tell you which network you are on.
A seed restored on another network is a different wallet, so practise with a seed made only for practice.
Rehearse on stagenet first, above all restoring from your paper seed.

Networks and practice ​

Three networks, one design ​

How to tell which network you are on ​

A seed belongs to no network ​

Why practise first ​

Getting stagenet coins ​

Stay safe ​

In Kilonova ​

Check yourself ​

What you learned ​

Next steps ​