Ethereum mainnet

Ethereum mainnet is the primary, public blockchain network that runs the Ethereum protocol and hosts the vast majority of Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts, and other digital assets. It is the "live" network where real Ethereum transactions occur, and it is maintained by a global network of nodes and miners.

The Ethereum mainnet was launched on July 30, 2015, and has undergone several upgrades and hard forks since then to improve its security, scalability, and functionality. It is a proof-of-stake (PoS) network, meaning that miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical problems and validate transactions in exchange for block rewards and transaction fees.

The mainnet is separate from other Ethereum networks, such as testnets and private networks, which are used for testing, development, and experimentation purposes. Transactions and smart contracts deployed on these networks do not affect the Ethereum mainnet and do not involve real Ethereum tokens.

The Ethereum mainnet is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem and serves as the foundation for a wide range of use cases, from decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to supply chain management and digital identity.

Visual

                   +------------+
                   |            |
                   | Consensus  |
                   | Mechanism  |
                   |            |
                   +-----+------+
                         |
                         |
               +---------+--------+
               |                  |
               |    Ethereum      |
               |      Mainnet     |
               |                  |
               +---------+--------+
                         |
                         |
              +----------+---------+
              |                    |
              |  Ethereum Clients  |
              |                    |
              +----------+---------+
                         |
                         |
            +------------+------------+
            |                         |
            |       Ethereum Smart    |
            |        Contracts        |
            |                         |
            +-------------------------+

In this diagram, the Ethereum testnet is at the center, surrounded by various components that interact with it. The consensus mechanism, Ethereum test clients, and Ethereum test smart contracts are all similar to those on the Ethereum mainnet, but they are designed specifically for testing and experimentation purposes. The Ethereum test network is separate from the mainnet and does not involve real Ethereum tokens or assets, allowing developers and users to experiment with Ethereum-based applications without incurring any costs or risks.