Mainnet Launch
A mainnet launch is the moment a blockchain project starts its production network, the live chain where transactions are final and tokens carry real value, as opposed to a testnet used for trials.
Testnet versus mainnet
Before launch, developers run one or more testnets: copies of the network where tokens are free and worthless, so bugs, upgrades and validator setups can be tested without real money at stake. The mainnet is the real network. Its blocks form the permanent history, and mistakes there can cost real funds.
Well-known launches include Bitcoin's network going live in January 2009 and Ethereum's first mainnet release, called Frontier, in July 2015.
What changes at launch
For many projects, the token existed before its own chain did, often as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum. At mainnet, holders may need to swap or migrate those placeholder tokens to native coins on the new chain, sometimes through an official bridge or migration tool, sometimes handled by exchanges.
Validators or miners begin producing blocks, wallets and explorers add support, and applications can deploy. Staking, governance and fee mechanics described in the documentation start to apply for real.
An example
Say a project's token trades as an ERC-20 token for a year before its own chain launches. On launch day the team opens a migration portal: you send 1,000 old tokens and receive 1,000 native coins on the new network. Anyone who ignores the official instructions and uses a lookalike site may send tokens to a scammer instead.
Risks around launches
New networks are at their least battle-tested. Early bugs, halted blocks, rushed upgrades and small validator sets are common in the first months. Token migrations attract phishing sites and fake support accounts. Launches are also often accompanied by token unlocks and heavy marketing, which can make prices volatile. A mainnet launch shows that the network runs; it does not show that it will attract users or stay secure.
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Frequently asked questions
Does mainnet mean a project is finished?
No. It means the production network is running. Development, upgrades and sometimes major changes continue afterwards.
Do I have to do anything with my tokens at mainnet?
It depends on the project. Some require a migration, others handle it automatically or through exchanges. Only follow instructions from the project's official channels.
Are testnet tokens worth anything?
They are not meant to be. Some projects later reward testnet participants, but that is a project choice, not a property of testnets.
Related terms
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