Cardano Networks¶
IOHK currently offers one Mainnet network and multiple Testnet networks
Mainnet uses real ada with financial value; Testnet uses ‘fake’ ada that does not have financial value (an exception to this is that some ada on the Shelley Incentivised testnet, may be converted to real ada, see below for details).
Note that versions of Yoroi may be available for these networks too. Please see https://yoroi-wallet.com/#/ for more info.
High-level Comparison of Cardano Networks¶
| Era | Common Network Name | Current Wallet | Explorer | Node | Topology | ada | Use |
| Byron | Mainnet | Daedalus | Yes | Haskell Node | Federated (run by IOHK) | Real | Transactions of ada |
| Byron | Testnet | Daedalus | No | Haskell Node | Federated (run by IOHK) | Fake | Beta testing Daedalus |
| Shelley | Incentivized Testnet | Daedalus Rewards | Yes | RUST Node (Jormungandr) | Distributed (run by IOHK and independent stake pools) | Fake* | Testing real incentives |
| Shelley | Beta Testnet | Daedalus Rewards | No | RUST Node (Jormungandr) | Distributed (run by IOHK and independent stake pools) | Fake | Beta testing Jormungander |
| Shelley | Nightly Testnet | Daedalus Rewards | No | RUST Node (Jormungandr) | Distributed (run by IOHK and independent stake pools) | Fake | Alpha testing Jormungander |
The ada on Shelley Incentivized Testnet is fake but the ada gained from staking rewards (and only from staking rewards) can be transferred back to mainnet at the end of Incentivised Testnet and will become real spendable ada on Mainnet.