What is Testnet and Devnet?

Offchain Labs maintains several public Arbitrum test networks, open for anyone to use.

Testnets primarily serve developers who want to test out the applications they're building without having to use any real mainnet funds.

Arbitrum testnets have the same full feature-set as the mainnet networks.

They are also "true" L2s; they run on top of public testnet Layer 1s, using their underlying networks for security and settlement.

Users can bridge any asset from the underlying testnet L1 into an Arbitrum testnet (and back!). Using a testnet is as easy as using Arbitrum mainnet; just connect your wallet to a testnet like you would any other networks. Transacting on a testnet requires tesnet-ether (i.e., fees for Arbitrum networks are paid in the native currency of their underlying L1).

Currently, we maintain 2 testnets:

1. Arb-Rinkeby: This testnet runs on top of the Rinkeby testnet, and its tech stays roughly in sync with the mainnet Arbitrum One network. C
   • Currently, it runs on the "Arbitrum classic” techstack, and soon, it will be updated to use the Nitro techstack.
     • (Note that Rinkeby is planned for deprecation, at which point Arbitrum-Rinkeby will be deprecated as well).
2. Nitro Devnet: This testnet runs on top of Goerli, and is the first public network to use the Nitro techstack.