Bitcoin testnet is a bitcoin network used for software and application testing and for user testing.
This network is “live” and you can open channels, connect to peers, etc. Bitcoin from the test network is worthless and cannot be used on the bitcoin mainnet.
Benefits of testnet:
- costs nothing to use.
- can connect to random peers and open channels.
- used to test applications in a safe environment.
- allows testing functionality that is not on the mainnet.
Disadvantages of testnet:
- we have to wait for the block to be mined.
- testnet is not as widely used as the mainnet.
Bitcoin Core’s regtest mode allows you to create a private Blockchain locally on your machine, with the same rules as in testnet. In regtest mode, we have complete control over all blocks to be mined.
Benefits of regtest mode:
- locally on the machine.
- full control of the environment.
- instant, no waiting for transactions.
- no risk.
Disadvantages of regtest mode:
- needs 100 confirmations.
- cannot connect to random peers or open channels.