Launch of the mainnet: from testing to a full-fledged blockchain network

When talking about mainnet, it refers to a fully developed and deployed blockchain protocol, where cryptocurrency transactions continuously flow into the system, undergo verification, and are recorded in a distributed ledger. This is fundamentally different from a testnet — an intermediate stage when the blockchain is still operating on limited capacities or is not launched in a production mode at all.

Test Network and Mainnet: What is the Difference

Developers use test networks as an experimental platform. Here they test all components of the system, identify bugs, eliminate vulnerabilities, and ensure that the blockchain protocol is ready for real-world loads. Essentially, a test network is a working mock-up of the project, a miniature copy of the mainnet.

The mainnet represents the final version - a fully developed blockchain ready for the acceptance, processing, and recording of cryptocurrency transactions. At this level, the system operates at full capacity, and all transactions are real and irreversible.

The Path from Idea to Mainnet Launch

Most blockchain projects follow one scheme: first, the team conducts initial funding (ICO, IEO, or other crowdfunding initiatives), raising investments for development. The funds raised are used to create prototypes of the blockchain network, which are then thoroughly tested on test networks.

After addressing critical bugs and confirming stability, the system is ready for full deployment. At this stage, the team launches the blockchain mainnet — a fully functional system ready to interact with users and investors.

The Historical Role of ERC-20 Tokens in the Development of Blockchain Projects

The year 2017 was a turning point: many blockchain startups chose the ICO format to attract investments. To simplify the process, most of them issued their tokens based on the ERC-20 standard on the Ethereum network — a platform that already provided the ready-made infrastructure for this.

Investors received ERC-20 tokens in proportion to their investments. However, this was a temporary measure: as soon as the proprietary blockchain project was fully deployed, the moment came to transition from temporary tokens to native coins.

Mainnet-swap: transition to own currency

The key stage in the life of the project is the mainnet swap (mainnet swap). This is the process in which ERC-20 tokens are exchanged for coins of the new blockchain at a ratio of 1:1. After the exchange is completed, the remaining old tokens are usually burned to ensure that only new coins on the own mainnet are in circulation.

This mechanism allowed projects to smoothly transition from the temporary Ethereum infrastructure to independent blockchain networks and gain full control over their ecosystem.

Diversity of blockchain platforms and standards

Despite the dominance of Ethereum and the ERC-20 standard, the crypto ecosystem remains polymorphic. As of today, there are other platforms that allow for the issuance of digital assets and the launch of their own mainnets: Stellar, NEM, NEO, TRON, Waves, and many others. Each has its own technological features, consensus models, and scalability options, but they all follow the same logic — from testing to a fully functional blockchain.