Bitcoin developer urges for testnet reboot due to malicious entities and disruptive block storms

Bitcoin’s primary testnet, TBTC, is in desperate need of a reboot due to issues with “block storms” and the exploitation of testnet Bitcoin (TBTC) by certain projects, according to Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Bitcoin custody firm Casa. In an essay titled “Griefing Bitcoin’s Testnet,” Lopp explained that the testnet’s unique consensus mechanism occasionally leads to over 10,000 blocks being produced in a single day, compared to the mainnet’s average of 144 blocks per day. As a result, the testnet’s block height is currently at 2,811,000, equivalent to where the Bitcoin mainnet would be in 2061. This has caused testnet miners’ rewards to decrease significantly, rendering the network impractical for developers. Lopp also highlighted how projects like SatoshiVM, MotoSwap, and Buy Testnet have been taking advantage of the scarcity of testnet Bitcoin by selling it at mainnet rates or using it to create artificial value. To prevent testnets from accruing value, Lopp recommended implementing regular resets and urged developers and users to transition to “testnet4” in the coming months.