Overview
Mainnet is the live, production Bitcoin network where real bitcoin with actual economic value is transacted. It is the network that has been running continuously since the genesis block was mined by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 3, 2009. Every real bitcoin transaction — from purchases and savings to mining rewards — occurs on mainnet.
Mainnet vs. Test Networks
Bitcoin has several networks, each serving a different purpose:
┌─────────────┬──────────────┬───────────────────────┐
│ Network │ Coin Value │ Purpose │
├─────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────────┤
│ Mainnet │ Real value │ Production use │
│ Testnet │ None │ Public testing │
│ Signet │ None │ Controlled testing │
│ Regtest │ None │ Local development │
└─────────────┴──────────────┴───────────────────────┘
Identifying Mainnet
Mainnet addresses and transactions use specific prefixes to prevent confusion with test networks. Mainnet addresses start with 1 (P2PKH), 3 (P2SH), or bc1 (bech32/bech32m). Testnet addresses start with m, n, 2, or tb1. Lightning invoices use lnbc for mainnet and lntb for testnet.
Common Misconceptions
Developers sometimes accidentally send real bitcoin on mainnet when they intended to test. This is why address prefixes differ between networks and why wallet software typically requires explicit network selection. Always double-check you are on the correct network before sending transactions, especially when developing or testing new applications.