All terms
All termsAddressBlockBlock timeBlockchainConfirmationGasGweiHashMempoolNodePrivate keyPublic keySeed phraseTransactionWalletAll time high (ATH)Bear marketBull marketBundlerCandlestickCapitulationChart patternsCliffDollar cost averaging (DCA)Funding rateLeverageLimit orderLiquidationLiquidityMarket capMarket orderOrder bookPerp (perpetual futures)Position sizingPresaleRisk managementSlippageSniperSpreadStealth launchStop lossSupport and resistanceTrendUnlockVestingVolatilityVolumeWhaleAMMBonding curveBridgeBurnCEXDAODeFiDepegDEXFarmingFlash loanGovernance tokenGraduationImpermanent lossLiquidity poolLP (liquidity provider)LP tokenOraclePerpetual (perp)PointsRestakingRWAStablecoinTVLWrapped tokenYield farmingAirdropAlphaAnonApe (to ape in)Ape inBagholderBagsChadCope / copiumCrypto Twitter (CT)DegenDevDiamond handsDiscordExit liquidityFloor priceFOMOFUDGMHODLJeetKOLLARPLoreMaxiMeme coinMoonNFTNGMINo coinerNormiePaper handsPFPRaidRektSerShillSnapshotTelegram (TG)TradFiWAGMIWenAddress poisoningCold storageCustodyDue diligence (DYOR)Dusting attackExit scamFront runningHardware walletHoneypotHot walletMEVMultisigPhishingPump and dumpRug pullSandwich attackSelf custodySIM swapToken approvalTwo factor authenticationWallet drainerWash tradingAccount abstractionAppchainBlock explorerCirculating and total supplyConsensusData availabilityEVMFaucetFinalityForkFully diluted valuation (FDV)Gas warHalvingLayer 1Layer 2Layer 3MainnetMiningName serviceOptimistic rollupProof of stakeProof of workRollupShardingSidechainSlashingSmart contractStakingTestnetToken standardTokenomicsValidatorZero knowledge proofZK rollupArweave and the permawebComposabilityCross chain messagingdAppDecentralized identity (DID)DePINGameFi and play to earnIndexerInteroperabilityIPFSOnchain and offchainSession keysSmart accountSocialFiSoulbound tokenSybil resistanceToken gatingWeb2 vs Web3Web3
Definition
The live network where real value moves.
Mainnet is production. Transactions are real, fees are real, and mistakes are permanent.
A project going from testnet to mainnet is a meaningful milestone, and also the point where its code faces adversaries with real incentives.
In practice
Always check which network your wallet is connected to before signing anything.
What people get wrong
That mainnet launch means the product is finished. It means real value can now move through it, which usually happens well before the code has been through a real adversarial year. The first months on mainnet are the most dangerous ones.
Common questions
How do I know I am on mainnet?
Your wallet’s network selector says so, and a block explorer for that chain will show your transaction. Test networks are usually labeled clearly, though phishing sites are not.
What does a mainnet launch mean for a project?
That the real network is live and real value is at stake. It says nothing about whether the code has been tested under load, which is usually when problems appear.
Where this comes up on the site
The guides that actually use this word, rather than a list of everything we have written.
Consensus from first principles: safety, liveness and finalityExpert · Consensus and cryptographyLiving on more than one chainIntermediate · Research and multichainInside the Solana runtime: accounts, parallelism and feesExpert · Scaling architectureRollup architecture: sequencing, proofs and exitsExpert · Scaling architectureRestaking and shared securityExpert · The transaction supply chainProposer builder separation and the MEV supply chainExpert · The transaction supply chain
Where to go next
TestnetA practice network with worthless tokens, used for development and learning.BlockchainA shared record of transactions that no single party controls.WalletSoftware that holds your keys and signs transactions. It does not hold your coins.
More technology terms
Account abstractionAppchainBlock explorerCirculating and total supplyConsensusData availabilityEVMFaucetFinalityForkFully diluted valuation (FDV)Gas war
Want this explained out loud?
Some of these land faster in conversation than in writing. Sessions are one to one and you can ask anything, including the things that feel too obvious to ask.