Bitcoin: How can I use testnet4 with Bitcoin Core today?

Using Testnet4 with Bitcoin Core: A Guide

Since June 2024, testnet3 has been severely compromised by a block storm, rendering it an unreliable and unusable development environment for testing Bitcoin Core. Fortunately, we can now switch to Testnet4, a more stable alternative that allows us to continue developing and testing our Bitcoin Core code.

Why Testnet4?

Testnet4 is the next step in the Bitcoin development process after testnet3. It provides a more secure and reliable testing environment for your Bitcoin Core code, allowing you to focus on building new features without worrying about the security risks associated with testnet3.

Configuring Bitcoin Core to Connect to Testnet4

To connect your Bitcoin Core wallet to Testnet4, follow these steps:

• Update your Bitcoin Core software: Make sure your Bitcoin Core software is up to date by running sudo bitcoin-qt --update.

• Create a new wallet on Testnet4: Run this command to create a new testnet4 wallet:

bitcoin-cli createwallet --fromtestnet4 --name your wallet

Replace «your wallet name» with the desired name for your wallet.

• Download and install the Testnet4 Node software: Download and install the latest version of the Testnet4 node software from the official GitHub repository: <

• Configure your Bitcoin Core wallet to use Testnet4: Open your bitcoin.conf file in a text editor (such as nano or vim). Add the following lines to the [testnet] section:

[testnet]
url = 

Replace “ with the IP address and port number of your Testnet4 node. You can find this information in the node dashboard or by running bitcoin-cli listnodes.

• Start your Bitcoin Core wallet

  : Run sudo bitcoin-qt --config /path/to/your/btc.conf to start the wallet.

• Test the connection: Once connected, verify that your wallet is using Testnet4 by checking the console output for any errors.

Tips and Considerations

• Before connecting to Bitcoin Core, check that you have sufficient funds in your testnet4 wallet.

• Update your bitcoin.conf file with the latest settings from the Testnet4 node software.

• Please note that Testnet4 is still under development and there may be bugs or security issues that affect the stability of your wallet.

After following these steps, you should now be able to connect to Testnet4 using Bitcoin Core. Happy testing!