# Developer Guide: Testnet

Set up a Verus testnet node for safe development and testing.

# Why Testnet?

Free coins — VRSCTEST has no value; experiment freely
Same features — Testnet runs identical code to mainnet
Safe mistakes — Lose keys, break things, learn without cost
Fast iteration — Same block time, but you can get coins instantly from faucet

# Setting Up a Testnet Node

# 1. Install Verus CLI

# Download latest release
curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/VerusCoin/VerusCoin/releases/latest \
  | grep "browser_download_url.*Linux.*x86_64" \
  | head -1 | cut -d '"' -f 4 | xargs wget -O /tmp/verus-cli.tgz

# Extract
mkdir -p ~/verus-cli
tar -xzf /tmp/verus-cli.tgz -C ~/verus-cli --strip-components=1

# ZK parameters are auto-downloaded on first daemon start (~1.7GB)
# To pre-download manually (optional):
cd ~/verus-cli && ./fetch-params

# 2. Start the Daemon

No manual configuration needed. The daemon automatically creates ~/.komodo/vrsctest/ and a vrsctest.conf with random RPC credentials on first launch.

# First time — use -bootstrap for fast sync (under 3 hours vs ~3 days)
./verusd -testnet -bootstrap

For subsequent starts after a clean shutdown:

./verusd -testnet -fastload

# 3. Wait for Sync

# Monitor progress
watch -n 10 './verus -testnet getinfo 2>/dev/null | grep -E "blocks|headers|connections"'

# Fully synced when blocks ≈ headers

# 4. Read Auto-Generated Credentials

cat ~/.komodo/vrsctest/vrsctest.conf | grep -E "rpcuser|rpcpassword|rpcport"

💡 Optional: Add custom settings (like addnode=195.248.234.41) to the auto-generated conf, then restart.

# Getting Testnet Coins

# Discord Faucet

Request VRSCTEST in the Verus Discord #testnet-faucet channel.

# From Another Wallet

If you have testnet coins elsewhere:

# Generate receiving address
./verus -testnet getnewaddress "dev-wallet"

# Send from other wallet to this address

# Mining (Slow but Autonomous)

# Start mining with 1 thread
./verus -testnet setgenerate true 1

# Check mining status
./verus -testnet getmininginfo

# Stop mining
./verus -testnet setgenerate false

# Testnet vs Mainnet Differences

Feature	Testnet	Mainnet
CLI prefix	`./verus -testnet`	`./verus`
Config directory	`~/.komodo/vrsctest/`	`~/.komodo/VRSC/`
Config file	`vrsctest.conf`	`VRSC.conf`
RPC port	18843	27486
P2P port	18842	27485
Currency	VRSCTEST	VRSC
ID suffix	`name.VRSCTEST@`	`name@`
ID cost	~100 VRSCTEST (free test coins)	~100 VRSC root ID (80 with referral; as low as ~20 net with a full referral chain you own; free via Valu; pennies on PBaaS chains)
Parent i-address	`iJhCezBExJHvtyH3fGhNnt2NhU4Ztkf2yq`	`i5w5MuNik5NtLcYmNzcvaoixooEebB6MGV`
Coin value	None (free)	Real value
Chain data size	~5–10 GB	~15–25 GB
Sync time (with `-bootstrap`)	Under 3 hours	Under 3 hours
Sync time (without bootstrap)	2–6 hours	~3 days

# Code Differences

# Testnet
RPC_PORT = 18843
PARENT_CURRENCY = "iJhCezBExJHvtyH3fGhNnt2NhU4Ztkf2yq"  # VRSCTEST

# Mainnet
RPC_PORT = 27486
PARENT_CURRENCY = "i5w5MuNik5NtLcYmNzcvaoixooEebB6MGV"  # VRSC

# Useful Testnet Commands

# Wallet Management

# New address
./verus -testnet getnewaddress "label"

# Check balance
./verus -testnet getbalance

# List transactions
./verus -testnet listtransactions "*" 10

# Send VRSCTEST
./verus -testnet sendtoaddress "R_ADDRESS" 10.0

# Identity Operations

# Register an identity (cheap on testnet!)
./verus -testnet registernamecommitment "testname" "YOUR_R_ADDR"
# Wait 1 block...
./verus -testnet registeridentity '{...}'

# Look up identity
./verus -testnet getidentity "testname.VRSCTEST@"

# Update identity
./verus -testnet updateidentity '{...}'

# Chain Information

# Node info
./verus -testnet getinfo

# Block details
./verus -testnet getblock "$(./verus -testnet getbestblockhash)"

# Mempool
./verus -testnet getmempoolinfo

# Peer connections
./verus -testnet getpeerinfo | grep -E '"addr"|"subver"'

# Currency and DEX

# List currencies
./verus -testnet listcurrencies

# Get currency details
./verus -testnet getcurrency "VRSCTEST"

# Estimate conversion
./verus -testnet estimateconversion '{"currency":"VRSCTEST","convertto":"OTHERCURRENCY","amount":10}'

# Development Workflow

Start testnet daemon
Get VRSCTEST from faucet
Register test identity
Build and test your integration
Break things freely
When confident → deploy to mainnet

# Stopping the Daemon

Always shut down cleanly:

./verus -testnet stop

Never kill the process — this can corrupt the database.

# Quick Reset

If you need a fresh testnet state:

./verus -testnet stop

# Option A: Quick reset (keeps wallet and config)
rm -rf ~/.komodo/vrsctest/blocks ~/.komodo/vrsctest/chainstate
./verusd -testnet -bootstrap

# Option B: Full reset (removes everything — back up wallet.dat first!)
cp ~/.komodo/vrsctest/wallet.dat ~/wallet-testnet-backup.dat
rm -rf ~/.komodo/vrsctest/
rm -rf ~/.verustest/    # testnet data may also be here
./verusd -testnet -bootstrap

macOS paths: Replace ~/.komodo/vrsctest/ with ~/Library/Application Support/Komodo/VRSCTEST/

# See Also

RPC API Overview — API connection basics
How to Create a VerusID — Identity registration walkthrough
Integration Patterns — Build real applications

Last updated: 2026-02-07