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Bitcoin main net was launched on January 3, 2009 at 19:15:05 UTC. But what is the history of the two other network options in Bitcoin: testnet and regtest?

I think testnet is on version 3, what was version 2, 1 (and 0)? And when was the regtest option added to Bitcoin Core?

Thorkil Værge
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  • Related to https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9975/has-the-testnet-ever-been-reset but also asks about `regtest` network option. – Thorkil Værge Sep 17 '21 at 07:19

1 Answers1

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Regtest was added in version 0.9.0 which was released in March 2014

Add '-regtest' mode, similar to testnet but private with instant block generation with 'setgenerate' RPC.

https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/release-notes/release-notes-0.9.0.md

Testnet's history: Has the TestNet ever been reset?

There is one more chain which is used for testing: Signet

It was added in https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/18267 (2020)

  • I heard that testnet version 3 was introduced because people starting putting a price on the version2 testnet coins. But the linked answer does not tell that story. Can anyone confirm or deny? – Thorkil Værge Sep 18 '21 at 19:11
  • Not sure about story but I have seen few people looking to sell testnet coins which is wrong: https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/99604/selling-test-bitcoin –  Sep 18 '21 at 19:47
  • Wrong? That's just like your opinion, man. – Thorkil Værge Sep 19 '21 at 23:45