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Last updated 2026-11-05

What Is a Custom Network?

Bitgold is not on the default network list of most wallets. This page explains the five values that connect a wallet to Bitgold, so you can add the network and recognize a bad configuration.

Who this is for

Anyone adding Bitgold to an EVM wallet for the first time, or checking a profile someone else gave them. If Bitgold already shows a balance, skip to the task pages.

What it is

A custom network is five values that tell an EVM wallet which chain to read, how to label it, and where to open its history. Wallets ship with a short default list chosen by the wallet maker, usually Ethereum and a few large chains.

Bitgold is an independent, EVM-compatible Layer 1, so it is not on that list. You add it the same way as any other EVM chain.

The values for each Bitgold network:

Field Mainnet Testnet
Network name Bitgold Mainnet Bitgold Testnet
RPC URL https://mainnet1.bitgold.network https://testnet1.bitgold.network
Chain ID 618 617
Currency symbol BTG tBTG
Block explorer URL https://www.bitgold.live https://testnet.bitgold.live

If mainnet1 is slow or unreachable, the same service answers on mainnet2 through mainnet6, and on mainnet-jp, mainnet-sg, and rpc, all under bitgold.network. Testnet backups are testnet2 and testnet3. Change only the leading label and keep the full https:// URL.

Each field has one job:

  • Network name is a label in the wallet's network list. A wrong name is only confusing.
  • RPC URL is the endpoint your wallet uses to read balances and broadcast transactions. A dead URL leaves the wallet blank; a dishonest one can report false data.
  • Chain ID identifies the actual chain, and your wallet signs it into every transaction. A wrong chain ID puts you on another network or makes the wallet reject the profile. Mainnet is decimal 618; some forms ask for hex, which is 0x26a.
  • Currency symbol is the ticker shown for the native coin. BTG uses 18 decimals. A wrong symbol changes the label, not the balance or the amount.
  • Block explorer URL only builds the "view on explorer" links. A wrong one breaks those links and nothing else.

Why it matters

Mainnet and testnet are separate ledgers. Mainnet BTG has value and testnet tBTG does not; a testnet balance will never appear on mainnet, and the Bitgold faucet only issues tBTG. Use testnet to practice, then repeat on mainnet.

A custom RPC is a trust decision. The endpoint sees your IP and every address you look up, and it can return a false balance or hide a transaction.

It cannot sign for you, but it can show a convincing false result. Treat any RPC from a stranger as unsafe, and compare its hostname with the table above.

Common misunderstandings

  • "Adding a custom network creates a new wallet." It does not. The same recovery phrase produces the same address on every EVM chain; the network profile only changes which chain the wallet displays.
  • "A zero balance means the funds are gone." Check the chain ID and the explorer first. A wallet on the wrong network, or behind a bad RPC, often shows nothing.
  • "Any RPC that loads is trustworthy." A fast endpoint can still lie; working is not the same as honest.

Key takeaways

  • A custom network is five values: name, RPC URL, chain ID, symbol, and explorer URL.
  • Mainnet is chain ID 618 with symbol BTG; testnet is 617 with tBTG.
  • The chain ID decides which chain you are on; the RPC decides what you are shown.
  • Use the official endpoints, and switch to a backup label if one fails.

Next steps