The Bitcoin test network (TBTC) requires a partial reset due to ongoing “block storms” caused by its “unique” consensus mechanism, according to Casa co-founder and CTO Jameson Lopp in a new essay.
While the main blockchain of the first cryptocurrency produces an average of 144 blocks per day, the testnet processes around 10,000. As a result, TBTC has reached a height of #2,811,000, a level the main network will not achieve until 2062.
Lopp noted that in TBTC, miner rewards have dwindled to nearly zero, rendering it almost unusable for developers.
According to the expert, the test network is also flooded with projects speculating on coin scarcity.
“Malefactors often exploit people’s naivety by selling them testnet bitcoins at the main network’s exchange rate,” he added.
For instance, the second-layer network SatoshiVM used TBTC to distribute an airdrop within the community, thus creating a false value for the test asset for its own purposes.
Lopp mentioned projects MotoSwap and Buy Tesnet, which also engage in selling test bitcoins.
“The only reason I advocate for a testnet reset is that it should be free for developers. Beyond that, everyone has the right to use the testnet for any purpose within project creation,” emphasized the Casa co-founder.
He also suggested adding a “bold warning” that testnet coins hold no value.
In his view, the only way to ensure the testnet’s utility is to “instill a culture of regular resets.” Lopp advised developers and users to transition their infrastructure to “testnet4” in the coming months.
In October 2023, Casa’s technical director urged more experimentation with Bitcoin in creating sidechains to expand and enhance the ecosystem.
Back in September, Lopp drew the community’s attention to the second-layer solution Spiderchain based on the first cryptocurrency from Botanix Labs, highlighting its advantages.