How do I run a Kaspa node on the testnet?

Running a Kaspa testnet node is almost identical to running a mainnet node — the only difference is adding a single command-line flag: --testnet. A node is software that connects to the Kaspa network and participates in processing transactions; the testnet is a separate Kaspa network that behaves like the real one but uses test coins worth nothing, so you can experiment safely. You can either download a precompiled version of the node (a ready-to-run binary) or build it yourself from the source code, then start it exactly as you would for mainnet and append --testnet to the launch command. This matters for anyone developing on Kaspa or learning how to run infrastructure, because the testnet lets you practice without putting real KAS at risk.

Not financial advice. This content is for education only. Nothing here is financial advice.