From 58a53cad64219958bdd200aa0e5232894a0e914b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bruno Volpato Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:28:49 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] First version of 15.3: Mining the Regtest --- 15_3_Mining_with_Regtest.md | 20 ++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+) create mode 100644 15_3_Mining_with_Regtest.md diff --git a/15_3_Mining_with_Regtest.md b/15_3_Mining_with_Regtest.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8522fb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/15_3_Mining_with_Regtest.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +# 15.3: Mining the Regtest + +> **NOTE:** This is a draft in progress, so that I can get some feedback from early reviewers. It is not yet ready for learning. + +This document explains how to generate (i.e. mine) blocks using a Regtest (Regression Test) blockchain. +To generate the Genesis block and the next blocks on a new blockchain requires very minimal proof-of-work, due to the low difficulty and that it follows the Testnet rules. + + +## Generating blocks + +You can generate/mine new blocks using the RPC method `generate`. This method is only available in the Regtest mode, using the following command: +``` +$ bitcoin-cli -regtest generate 101 +``` + +This command will generate 101 blocks using a special RPC which is only available in regtest mode. This takes less than a second on a generic PC. +Because this is a new block chain using Bitcoin’s default rules, the first blocks pay a block reward of 50 bitcoins. +Unlike mainnet, in regtest mode only the first 150 blocks pay a reward of 50 bitcoins. +However, a block must have 100 confirmations before that reward can be spent, so we generate 101 blocks to get access to the coinbase transaction from block #1. +