Network Support¶
Vigil supports monitoring wallets on multiple Bitcoin networks.
Supported Networks¶
| Network | Purpose | Real Value |
|---|---|---|
| Mainnet | Production Bitcoin | Yes |
| Testnet | Testing and development | No |
| Signet | Testing with controlled block production | No |
Network Detection¶
Vigil automatically detects the network from your wallet data:
Extended Public Keys¶
| Prefix | Network |
|---|---|
xpub, ypub, zpub |
Mainnet |
tpub, upub, vpub |
Testnet/Signet |
Addresses¶
| Format | Network |
|---|---|
1... (P2PKH) |
Mainnet |
3... (P2SH) |
Mainnet |
bc1q... (P2WPKH) |
Mainnet |
bc1p... (P2TR) |
Mainnet |
m..., n... (P2PKH) |
Testnet |
2... (P2SH) |
Testnet |
tb1q... (P2WPKH) |
Testnet |
tb1p... (P2TR) |
Testnet |
Signet vs Testnet
Signet uses the same address prefixes as testnet. Vigil determines signet vs testnet based on your account settings or explicit selection during wallet creation.
Mainnet¶
When to Use¶
- Production monitoring
- Real Bitcoin holdings
- Theft Shield protection for actual funds
Infrastructure¶
Mainnet wallets are monitored using:
- Our production Bitcoin node infrastructure
- Redundant mempool scanning
- High-availability alert systems
Subscription Requirements¶
Mainnet monitoring requires an active subscription (Free tier or higher).
Testnet¶
When to Use¶
- Learning how Vigil works
- Testing notification configurations
- Developing integrations
- Testing Theft Shield without risk
Getting Testnet Coins¶
Testnet Bitcoin has no value and can be obtained from faucets:
Infrastructure¶
Testnet monitoring uses:
- Dedicated testnet nodes
- Same alert system as mainnet
- May have slightly higher latency than mainnet
Signet¶
When to Use¶
- Development and testing
- Controlled testing environment
- When testnet is unreliable
What is Signet?¶
Signet is a test network where blocks are signed by a trusted set of signers, providing:
- Predictable block times
- No random reorgs
- More reliable than testnet
Getting Signet Coins¶
Feature Availability by Network¶
| Feature | Mainnet | Testnet | Signet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallet Monitoring | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email Alerts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Webhook Alerts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Nostr Alerts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Theft Shield | Depends on subscription | Depends on subscription | Depends on subscription |
| PSBT Signing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Testing Theft Shield
Test Theft Shield on testnet or signet before enabling it on mainnet. Eligibility is shown in-app under Account → Subscription.
Mixing Networks¶
Wallet Network is Fixed¶
Each wallet is tied to a specific network based on its configuration. You cannot:
- Use mainnet xpubs with testnet
- Monitor mainnet addresses as testnet
- Change a wallet's network after creation
Multiple Wallets¶
Create separate wallets for each network:
My Cold Storage (mainnet) - zpub...
My Test Wallet (testnet) - vpub...
My Dev Wallet (signet) - vpub...
Network-Specific Considerations¶
Mempool Differences¶
| Network | Mempool Behavior |
|---|---|
| Mainnet | Fees fluctuate with demand |
| Testnet | Often congested with spam |
| Signet | Predictable, low traffic |
Block Times¶
| Network | Average Block Time |
|---|---|
| Mainnet | ~10 minutes |
| Testnet | Irregular (can be hours) |
| Signet | ~10 minutes (controlled) |
Confirmation Reliability¶
- Mainnet: Confirmations are final (barring reorgs)
- Testnet: Frequent reorgs, less reliable
- Signet: Reliable, no unexpected reorgs
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