API keys: Mainnet vs Testnet

Modified on Fri, 22 Sep 2023 at 12:18 PM

When you sign up in the Tatum.io Dashboard, you'll get one development (testnet) and one production (mainnet) API key. You can create more API keys as you need them.

  • Mainnet stands for "main network". This is where your production app will run. 
  • Testnet stands for "testing network". In most cases, has exactly the same features and characteristics as the mainnet. The testnet is completely isolated from the mainnet. It doesn't have the same data, and it doesn't guarantee data persistence. On the other hand, all operations on the testnet are free. This makes testnet a great environment for developing and testing apps.


Whatever happens on the Mainnet is final. If you send Mainnet assets like BTC to the wrong address on the testnet it's fine. But if you do it on the mainnet, you'll lose money!

Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select atleast one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article