Mainnet: The Live, Operational Blockchain
A mainnet is the primary, live version of a blockchain network where real transactions with actual value occur. It's the final stage after testing, where cryptocurrencies are traded, smart contracts are executed, and decentralized applications run for real users. For token creators, launching on a mainnet like Solana means your token is publicly tradable and interacts with the broader ecosystem.
Key Points
- 1A mainnet is the live, production blockchain where real crypto transactions happen.
- 2It's the final stage after development and testing on a testnet.
- 3Launching a token on a mainnet (e.g., Solana) makes it publicly tradable and valuable.
- 4Mainnet activity is permanent and recorded on the public ledger.
- 5Platforms like Spawned.com launch tokens directly on the Solana mainnet.
What is a Mainnet?
The main stage where digital assets gain real value.
Think of a mainnet as the finished, publicly open highway system for digital assets. It's the fully functional blockchain network where all transactions are real, permanent, and have monetary consequences. Unlike a testnet—a simulated environment for developers—every SOL spent, every token traded, and every smart contract interaction on a mainnet involves real economic value and is immutably recorded.
For a token creator, your project 'goes live' when it deploys to a mainnet. This is the moment your token transitions from a concept or test token to a real digital asset that can be bought, sold, and held in wallets. The Solana mainnet, for instance, processes thousands of transactions per second, hosting everything from major DeFi protocols to new meme coins.
Mainnet vs. Testnet: Key Differences
One is for practice, the other is for the real game.
Understanding the distinction between a mainnet and a testnet is important for any creator before launching.
| Feature | Mainnet | Testnet |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Value | Real cryptocurrency (e.g., SOL, USDC). | Fake, valueless 'faucet' tokens. |
| Transaction Cost | Real gas fees paid in native crypto. | No real cost; faucets provide test tokens. |
| Purpose | Live operations, real economic activity. | Development, debugging, and trial runs. |
| Permanence | Transactions are final and immutable. | Transactions are often wiped or reset. |
| Network | The primary, production blockchain. | A separate, parallel simulation network. |
You should only test smart contracts and transaction flows on a testnet. Launching your actual token happens on the mainnet.
The Mainnet's Role in a Token Launch
Your token launch is fundamentally the act of deploying your token's smart contract to a mainnet. On Solana, this creates a unique mint address on the mainnet ledger. Once this is done:
- The Token Exists: It is now a real, distinct asset on the blockchain.
- It's Tradable: It can be listed on decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
- It Holds Value: People can assign monetary worth to it.
- It's Permanent: The deployment cannot be undone (though the token can become worthless).
Platforms like Spawned.com handle this mainnet deployment for you. When you launch with Spawned, you're not just creating a token contract; you're launching it directly on the Solana mainnet with immediate liquidity pairing, a live website from our AI builder, and your community rewards system activated.
Why Launch on the Solana Mainnet?
Choosing Solana's mainnet for your launch offers tangible benefits:
- Speed & Low Cost: Transactions confirm in under 2 seconds with an average fee of $0.00025. This makes community engagement and trading frictionless.
- Massive Ecosystem: Immediate access to millions of wallets, hundreds of DEXs like Raydium and Orca, and leading tools.
- Proven Scale: The network consistently handles over 2,000 transactions per second, ensuring your token launch won't be bogged down by congestion.
- Token-2022 Standard: Solana's advanced token program supports features like permanent transfer fees, which Spawned uses to provide creators with 1% perpetual revenue post-graduation.
- Integrated Tooling: From Spawned's AI website builder to on-chain analytics, the Solana ecosystem provides a complete toolkit for creators.
How to Launch a Token on Mainnet with Spawned
A guided, secure path to a live token.
Launching on the mainnet is straightforward with the right platform. Here’s how it works on Spawned.com:
The Verdict on Mainnets for Creators
Your token's journey starts and lives on the mainnet.
The mainnet is non-negotiable for a serious token launch. It is the only environment where your project gains real economic validity and community traction. While testnets are important for preliminary smart contract testing, your public launch must be on a mainnet.
For Solana creators, using a launchpad like Spawned.com that directly deploys to the mainnet is recommended. It streamlines the complex process, ensures security, and bundles essential tools like the AI website builder. The alternative—manually deploying contracts and setting up liquidity—is error-prone and requires higher technical skill. Spawned's model, with a 0.1 SOL fee and a sustainable 0.30%/0.30% fee structure for creator and holder rewards, provides a balanced and professional entry point to the Solana mainnet.
Ready for Your Mainnet Launch?
Take your project from concept to live asset.
Your idea deserves a real launch on the Solana mainnet. Spawned.com provides the complete toolkit: mainnet token deployment, immediate liquidity, an AI-generated website, and a fair reward system for both you and your holders—all for a 0.1 SOL launch fee.
Launch on the real blockchain. Start your project on the Solana mainnet today.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Launching on a mainnet is safe when done correctly through audited, reputable platforms. The risk comes from manual coding errors or scam platforms. Using a launchpad like Spawned.com, which uses standardized, tested smart contracts for deployment, significantly reduces risk. The Solana mainnet itself is a secure, decentralized network with billions in value secured.
No. Tokens on a testnet have no value and exist on a separate network. You cannot 'move' a testnet token to a mainnet. Launching on the mainnet is a separate act: you create a new, real token contract on the mainnet blockchain. Your testnet token is only for practice and should share no real connection to your mainnet token's details for security.
Costs include the blockchain transaction (gas) fees to create the token contract and initial liquidity pool. On Solana, these fees are very low (fractions of a cent). The larger cost is often the initial liquidity you provide. Spawned.com simplifies this with a flat 0.1 SOL launch fee (~$20), which covers deployment, initial liquidity, and your AI website—saving you hundreds in potential developer and website hosting costs.
Once on the mainnet, your token is live. It can be traded on DEXs, held in wallets, and tracked by explorers. With Spawned, your 0.30% creator fee on every trade begins immediately, and your 0.30% holder rewards system is active. You can promote your live contract address and your project's website, which is already built and hosted.
No. A core feature of blockchains like Solana is immutability. Once a transaction is confirmed on the mainnet, it cannot be reversed, altered, or deleted. This applies to token sends, smart contract interactions, and your token's initial creation. This permanence is why security and using trusted tools for mainnet deployment are critical.
Direct deployment requires deep technical knowledge of Solana's tools (Solana CLI, Anchor), smart contract security, and liquidity pool mechanics. Spawned automates this with a secure, one-click process for 0.1 SOL. It also adds immediate value: an AI-built website (saving $29-99/month), a built-in holder rewards system, and a path to perpetual 1% fees via Token-2022—features you'd have to build and pay for separately.
Token-2022 is an upgraded token standard on Solana that enables advanced features like permanent transfer fees. Spawned.com uses this so that when your token graduates from its initial launch phase, it can implement a 1% fee on all future transfers. This provides you, the creator, with a sustainable, perpetual revenue stream directly coded into the token on the mainnet, a feature not possible with the older token standard.
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