Crypto Quill

Hedera, the most used, sustainable, and enterprise-grade public network for the decentralized economy, has announced two updates to its testnet environment that will benefit developers and optimize resource allocation. The updates, which are effective from February 1, 2024, include a new anonymous faucet for developers and changes to the Hedera portal.

New Anonymous Faucet for Developers

The new faucet enables developers to anonymously collect up to 100 testnet HBAR every 24 hours, by simply entering the ID or EVM address of their Hedera testnet account. The test tokens can be used to build and test applications on the Hedera network, without the need to disclose any personal information or go through a lengthy registration process. This workflow may also be familiar to those experienced in developing on other networks.

Changes to Hedera Portal Accounts

The refill process for Hedera testnet accounts created through the Hedera portal is also changing. The automatic daily allocation is now 1,000 testnet HBAR with a manual request for refill (clicking a button) per 24-hour period. This amount could be adjusted in the future. This change ensures that after February 1 and after each subsequent testnet reset, all Hedera portal accounts start with a balance of 1,000 testnet HBAR. Accounts are topped up to 1,000 testnet HBAR only when the user clicks to request more test tokens from the Hedera portal or when a quarterly testnet reset occurs. Only one refill request can be made in a 24-hour period.

In addition, Personal Access Tokens (commonly known as API keys) are also available from the Hedera portal. These API keys facilitate re-creating accounts and querying for account ID information programmatically after testnet and previewnet resets.

Why These Changes?

These changes are driven by the feedback and needs identified within the ecosystem of application builders on the network. The goal is to continuously improve the development experience on Hedera, ensuring that Hedera testnet resources are distributed efficiently and fairly, minimizing potential disruptions and maximizing utility for all users.

The Benefits

The updates offer four main benefits for developers and the network:

• Reduced Friction: The new anonymous faucet significantly lowers the entry barrier for developers, providing fast and easy access to testnet HBAR, and the API keys eliminate the need to manually recreate accounts after resets. With these changes, developers can start building and testing more quickly on Hedera – whether it’s their first time or after a reset.
• More Privacy: Aligning with the practices in the public blockchain space, the new faucet eliminates the need for personal information disclosure, providing more privacy for devs.
• Efficient Use of Resources: The adjustments in testnet HBAR allocation and the manual refill for portal accounts are designed to encourage responsible usage of shared resources, avoiding wastage and ensuring availability for all users.
• Network Growth and Innovation: The updates are expected to attract more builders to the Hedera ecosystem, fostering growth and innovation on the network.

Hedera said in the announcement that it will continue to make improvements to its ecosystem based on feedback from the community and the needs it identifies.