Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are exciting and complex subjects. Each cryptocurrency is built upon its own blockchain, enabling the currency to thrive in the way the developers intended. So how do developers test out new project functions and features on an established cryptocurrency project without disturbing the intricacies of the blockchain? A testnet.

Blockchain platforms model the infrastructure for all cryptocurrencies. They are the roads from which cryptocurrencies travel. A blockchain allows each individual cryptocurrency to perform according to the specifications of the developers behind each cryptocurrency project. There are numerous examples of blockchain platforms utilized by cryptocurrencies comprising the emerging market we see today. An alternate form of a blockchain platform we should all be acquainted with is known as a testnet. Many developers utilize a testnet to further enhance their own cryptocurrency project. The developers behind the Electra Project recently released their own testnet blockchain and this commentary will serve as an aid to better understand what the testnet is and why the Electra Project uses one.

The Electra Project testnet is another type of blockchain platform which resembles the “live” blockchain in the way it functions even though it is separate from the “live” ECA blockchain. This “test” blockchain allows for the testing and trial of different ideas and functions that blockchain developers may choose to implement on the “live” blockchain. Why would the developers of an established cryptocurrency need an entirely separate blockchain? Let’s use an analogy to help you better understand why the testnet is used.

If you were an engineer for a motor vehicle manufacturer, testing the safety quality of your new line of motor vehicles, you wouldn’t place a live human being behind the steering wheel to perform the crash test. Instead, you would place a test dummy in the driver’s seat to ensure no one is injured during the testing. The testnet blockchain acts as the test car in this scenario while the “fake” ECA used on the testnet act as the crash test dummy. This ensures neither the “live” blockchain nor the real ECA are compromised during the testing of new products and features. The testnet blockchain serves to secure the integrity of the “live” blockchain, while allowing Electra Project Developers the freedom to unleash their creativity and test new functions.

The testnet blockchain also uses its own “fake” cryptocurrency to test out potential features. The cryptocurrency coins used for the testnet blockchain are not valid and do not take away from the actual ECA coins that are utilized on the “live” blockchain. They are essentially “dummy” coins that allow the developers to use the testnet blockchain and test the reactions from different implementations.

The testnet serves as a buffer between the innovation of the Electa Project developers and the blockchain already incorporated. The Electra Project developers use this medium to test their ideas on a platform that will return real-world results without having to sacrifice the stability of the “live” blockchain. Some of the tests that the developers execute on the testnet blockchain include:

Masternodes

Blocktime sizes and changes

Staking and rewards models

Atomic Swaps

Masternodes are cryptocurrency nodes (individuals) that maintain a comprehensive duplicate of a blockchain in real-time. The introduction of Masternodes in the near future will increase the performance of ECA on the blockchain all while further stabilizing the network and decreasing the consumption of energy.

Blocktime sizes and changes are both responsible for making a cryptocurrency faster. Speed is the name of the game in the cryptocurrency world and ECA is lightning fast. The testnet will allow the developers to check different block sizes and blocktimes, enabling an overall faster cryptocurrency transaction on the Electra blockchain. Recently, we witnessed a change in these specifications from the updated Electra Project White Paper.

Staking and reward models are also among the new announcements with the release of the updated White Paper. Initially, Electra was released as a Proof of Stake cryptocurrency that would reward 50% annual returns for those who decided to stake their coins within their Electra wallets. Staking rewards have recently been altered to allow for better scalability and to ensure longevity of the Electra Project.

Atomic Swaps are also on the horizon for the Electra Project. Atomic Swaps will facilitate P2P (Peer-to-Peer) transactions from one cryptocurrency into another. For example, if you wanted to pay someone with your ECA for a product or service but the merchant or other individual only accepts Bitcoin, you would be able to pay them directly to their BTC wallet without having to move your ECA into an exchange first. This makes the process a much easier and less costly endeavor.

The introduction of the Electra testnet will invariably allow updates and improvements to the Electra Project’s goals. The Electra Project is also a decentralized, open-sourced, community-driven project which welcomes individuals to participate in its development. Developers from all over the world are encouraged to offer their skills and ideas to the Electra Project in an effort to make ECA the most functional and expanding cryptocurrency project in the industry. With the testnet, developers are given the opportunity to commence their own development within the testnet blockchain. This will not only help to grow the Electra Project but it will also assist in stimulating the testnet, which will give the Electra Team a better chance to deploy their successful trial runs into the “live” blockchain.

If you are familiar with the White Paper, Roadmap, and overall goals of the Electra Project, the tests described above may seem familiar to you. These tests are related to future products the developers intend on releasing or improving upon in the future. The developers of the Electra Project are able to test these amazing new features with the assistance of the testnet, but fear not, your ECA on the “live” blockchain will not be affected.

Author: UnderTow

Editor: Wolf

Image: Deano