Joining the BitNet Mainnet
This guide walks you through how to join the BitNet mainnet, set up your node, and become a mainnet validator securely and efficiently.
1. Server Timezone Requirement
Set your server timezone to UTC. Failure to do so may result in a LastResultsHash mismatch and halt your node.
Check your current timezone with:
2. Install the BitNet Binary
Install the official bitnetd binary from the . Always confirm you are using the version that matches the latest mainnet release:
3. Save Chain ID (Optional)
To simplify CLI usage, store the chain ID in your config:
bitnetd config chain-id bitnet_mainnet_9001
4. Initialize the Node
Initialize your node with a custom moniker:
bitnetd init <your_moniker> --chain-id bitnet_mainnet_9001
Only use ASCII characters in your moniker.
This creates the ~/.bitnetd directory and all necessary subfolders.
5. Download the Mainnet Genesis File
Retrieve and validate the genesis.json:
wget https://archive.bitnet.org/mainnet/genesis.json
mv genesis.json ~/.bitnetd/config/genesis.json
bitnetd validate-genesis
6. Add Seed and Persistent Peers
Seed Nodes
Edit your ~/.bitnetd/config/config.toml file to include:
seeds = "<node-id>@<ip>:<port>"
You may automate this:
SEEDS=$(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bitnet/mainnet/main/seeds.txt | awk '{print $1}' | paste -s -d, -)
sed -i.bak -e "s/^seeds *=.*/seeds = \"$SEEDS\"/" ~/.bitnetd/config/config.toml
Persistent Peers
PEERS=$(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bitnet/mainnet/main/peers.txt | sort -R | head -n 10 | awk '{print $1}' | paste -s -d, -)
sed -i.bak -e "s/^persistent_peers *=.*/persistent_peers = \"$PEERS\"/" ~/.bitnetd/config/config.toml
7. Create a Validator on Mainnet
Only proceed once your node is fully synced and you have BNC tokens.
bitnetd tx staking create-validator \
--amount=1000000abnc \
--pubkey=$(bitnetd tendermint show-validator) \
--moniker="BitNetWhale" \
--chain-id=bitnet_mainnet_9001 \
--commission-rate="0.05" \
--commission-max-rate="0.20" \
--commission-max-change-rate="0.01" \
--min-self-delegation="1000000" \
--gas="auto" \
--gas-prices="0.025abnc" \
--from=<key_name>
Never generate validator keys using test backends (e.g. insecure keyrings). Doing so may expose your funds via public JSON-RPC endpoints.
8. Start the Node
Once all configurations are complete:
After reaching +2/3 validator power, the BitNet mainnet will begin producing blocks.
9. Share Your Peer
Get your node ID:
bitnetd tendermint show-node-id
Then share it in BitNet’s community #find-peers channel to help bootstrap peer connections.
You're now fully integrated with the BitNet Mainnet!