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

Using Testnet4 with Bitcoin Core: A Guide

As of June 2024, testnet3 has been severely compromised by a block storm, making it an unreliable and unusable development environment for testing Bitcoin Core. Fortunately, we can now switch to Testnet4, a more stable option that allows you to continue developing and testing your Bitcoin Core code.

Why Testnet4?

Testnet4 is the next step in Bitcoin’s 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 in Testnet4: Run the following command to create a new testnet4 wallet:

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

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 with a text editor (e.g. 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's dashboard or by runningbitcoin-cli listnodes.

• Start your Bitcoin Core Wallet

  

  : Runsudo bitcoin-qt –config /path/to/your/btc.confto start your wallet.

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

Tips and Considerations

• Make sure your testnet4 wallet has sufficient funds before connecting it to Bitcoin Core.

• Keep yourbitcoin.conf` file up to date with the latest settings in the Testnet4 node software.

• Keep in mind that Testnet4 is still under development and there may be bugs or security issues that could affect the stability of your wallet.

After following these steps, you should now have a working connection to Testnet4 using Bitcoin Core. Happy testing!