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Monero testnet
Monero testnet & stagenet
Monero has two non-mainnet networks, and the difference matters. This guide explains testnet vs stagenet, how to get test XMR, and how privacy changes what you can see.
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testnet vs stagenet
Monero gives you two networks to practice on, and picking the right one saves confusion:
| Network | What it's for | Informal symbol |
|---|---|---|
| stagenet | Technically equivalent to mainnet in features and consensus rules. The recommended network for integration, exchange-style, and app testing, because it behaves like real Monero. | sXMR |
| testnet | The experimental network. Forks earlier and more often, and may be reset. Best for trying protocol or wallet features. | tXMR |
Which should I use?
For most learning that should resemble real Monero, use stagenet. Reach for testnet when you specifically want the bleeding edge.
Note: tXMR and sXMR are informal labels used by faucets and explorers. Monero has no separate official tickers, and the coin is XMR on every network.
Get test XMR
- A faucet: CypherFaucet hands out Monero stagenet and testnet coins.
- Mining: Monero is CPU-mineable, which makes TestnetPool a nice way to see mining first-hand.
You'll create an address in TestnetWallet, which supports Monero testnet and stagenet.
Addresses
Monero addresses are long Base58 strings, and the first character tells you the network:
| Network | Standard address starts with | Subaddress |
|---|---|---|
| Mainnet | 4 | 8 |
| Stagenet | 5 | 7 |
| Testnet | 9 or A | B |
How Monero is different
Want to see the cryptography in motion? CypherToshi has an interactive How Monero Works explainer.
Monero is private by default, and that changes how everything works, including an explorer. Three mechanisms make this happen:
- Ring signatures hide the sender by mixing the real input with decoys, so it isn't clear which coin was actually spent.
- Stealth (one-time) addresses hide the recipient: every payment goes to a fresh one-time address that can't be linked back to your public address on-chain.
- RingCT hides the amount.
Because of this, a Monero block explorer shows far less than a Bitcoin one, by design. If you want someone to be able to see (but not spend) your incoming funds, you share your view key; that's the same mechanism an explorer or auditor uses to reveal an otherwise-opaque transaction.
One practical effect: Monero outputs need to unlock before you can spend them, typically about 10 blocks after they're received. See how confirmations work.
Run a node
The Monero daemon starts on a test network with a flag:
monerod --stagenet # or --testnet
monero-wallet-cli --stagenetAs with any node, keep the RPC interface private. The general node walkthrough (written for Litecoin, but the same idea) is at run a testnet node.
Network parameters
Testnet coins are fake money
- Test and stagenet XMR have no market value, so never buy or sell them.
- Never use a real seed phrase or import a real wallet on testnet.
- Never send mainnet XMR to a testnet or stagenet address.