Mainets

Mainets, often written mainnets, are the primary live blockchain networks where a project's native cryptocurrency and smart contracts operate. They host real-value transactions and are secured by the protocol’s consensus mechanism. Mainnets are distinct from test networks (testnets) and development networks (devnets), which are used for experimentation and do not involve real assets. In common usage, mainet refers to the mainnet of a given chain, though some writers treat it as a misspelling of mainnet.

Examples include Bitcoin’s mainnet and Ethereum’s mainnet. Each mainnet has its own token, rules for transaction processing, and fee model. Participants include wallets, full nodes, validators, and miners, depending on the consensus algorithm. The security and reliability of a mainnet depend on economic incentives, network size, and the robustness of the protocol.

Upgrades to mainnets are coordinated through forks or protocol upgrades. Hard forks introduce incompatible changes, while soft forks maintain compatibility. Upgrades are typically prepared on testnets and subjected to audits and community review before activation on the mainnet, given the potential impact on users and funds. Because mainnets carry real value, they are the focus of security research, incident response planning, and formal deployment procedures.