What Is the Difference between a Testnet and a Mainnet Launch Milestone?

A testnet is a separate, non-production instance of a blockchain network used by developers to test and debug the protocol's features, smart contracts, and updates in a safe, risk-free environment. It uses worthless test tokens.

A mainnet is the live, operational production blockchain where real transactions occur, and the project's native token holds real monetary value. The mainnet launch is a critical, high-impact milestone signifying the project's transition from development to a fully functional, public network.