Stroom Testnet guide
Stroom Network is a Bitcoin Liquid Staking protocol that allows users to earn routing fees on the Lightning Network (LN) by staking their BTC.
While it also opens doors to various yield options within the DeFi ecosystem, the true innovation lies in its unique proposition: earning native Bitcoin yield derived from its utility as a payment method.
Why participate in the testnet?
1) Join the community of true believers in Bitcoin, its potential, and world-changing power
Every member of the Stroom community, referred to as a stroomer, will accelerate BTC adoption as a superior form of money. Furthermore, the Bitcoin ecosystem, with the help of Stroom and LN, will reward stroomers with native yield—a genuinely groundbreaking and immaculate partnership.
2) Improve the protocol
Stroomers who contributed during the testnet phase (earned any number of points) will accelerate the protocol adoption and improve its usability. Stroom’s team wholeheartedly works to eliminate all the nuisances with the protocol usage, and all help from the community greatly alleviates the pressure from the developing team, whether it is spreading the word about the product, providing feedback, submitting a bug, etc.
3) Collect points
Each participant will be able to reap rewards after the testnet ends, based on the number of points gained during the test phase. You can boost point numbers by completing our tasks or inviting more users via a referral link.
Testnet roadmap
Our testnet will start on March 21, 2024, and will continue until the mainnet launch, which is expected to occur later this year. We’ll update this section as testing progresses.
Update: We have released our validator update as the first step to the protocol decentralization. This update also includes a switch from BTC testnet3 to testnet4, which offers improved stability.
Please review the updated step-by-step guide below to ensure you're familiar with the latest instructions for using the Stroom testnet.
Before you begin
To get started, you will need the following things:
A BTC wallet that supports Testnet4
A MetaMask wallet with the Sepolia testnet enabled
An X (Twitter) account
A Discord account
How to participate
1) Visit Stroom's website: https://stroom.network/
2) Once the testnet is live, you will see a button on the main page to join it. Additionally, an announcement will be posted on our official Twitter page.
3) As the testnet progresses, we will roll out more and more activities for our stroomers. So, stay tuned!
How to get Testnet BTC?
First, you’ll need a Bitcoin wallet that supports Testnet4 Bitcoin. According to https://testnet4.com/, such wallets include Sparrow and Anyone.
We will use Sparrow Wallet as an example for setup.
Go to the “Download section” and select the appropriate version
Install the application on your computer or laptop
Launch the sparrow app file (sparrow.exe for Windows)
Set up online access
Once finished, go to “Tools - Restart in - Testnet4”
After the restart, set up a new wallet and name it
In the “Settings” section, click the “New or Imported Software wallet”
Select your preferred backup method. The BIP39 option with 12 words for the seed phrase will be the fastest
Click “Generate now” and then “Confirm Backup” after securely saving your mnemonic
Re-enter the mnemonic and click “Create Keystore - Import Keystore - Apply”
Set a password if desired
If everything is set up correctly, the left menu options should all be active
Next, you will need to have some testnet BTC on your wallet balance.
Go to https://testnet4.com/
Select a preferred faucet
Enter your receiving address and the amount
Wait for the transaction to confirm on the blockchain
How to get Sepolia ETH?
Primarily, make sure you have a MetaMask wallet. You can find information on what it is and how to set up a wallet at https://metamask.io/. Once your wallet is set up, navigate to the top-left corner, click on the dropdown menu, toggle the “Show test networks” switch on, and select “Sepolia” instead of the “Ethereum Mainnet.”
Next, you will need to use a Sepolia faucet to top up your balance. A few thousand of Sepolia ETH will be enough to confirm transactions. Below are some Sepolia faucets you can use:
How to Stake?
In the first stage of Stroom’s testnet, we invite all individual or corporate users interested in trying Bitcoin staking with us. Assuming you have completed the prerequisite set of actions described in the Before you begin section, you can now explore the “How to” section.
Step 1 - Follow our X (Twitter) account
Go to https://stroom.network/
Find a Twitter icon at the top or bottom of our website and click it
Click the Follow button once you are on our Twitter page
Step 2 - Join our Discord
Go to https://stroom.network/
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Discord icon
Accept the invitation to join our server
Step 3 - Connect your wallet
Visit our app: https://testnet.stroom.network/mint
At the top-right of the screen, you will see the “CONNECT WALLET” button
Click on it and choose the MetaMask option to connect
Allow the requested permissions from MetaMask
If everything is done correctly, at the top-right of the screen, instead of the “CONNECT WALLET” button, you will see your connected wallet address
Step 4 - Mint
Connect your MetaMask wallet
After your ETH wallet is connected, click “Get Deposit BTC Address” and sign the transaction in your wallet
If you have connected your wallet successfully, the “Mint” screen with a Testnet Bitcoin deposit address will appear
Copy the provided BTC address
Go to your Testnet BTC wallet
Deposit a desired amount of BTC
Return to our testnet and click the “I have paid” button
Once the transaction has received enough confirmations, it will be displayed above
Select the transaction you wish to mint (if you have multiple deposits) by pressing the “Proceed” button
Click the “Mint” button
Allow the requested permissions from MetaMask
If you have followed the instructions correctly, your balance will top up promptly
How to Unstake?
We have streamlined the process by combining the unstaking and redeeming functionalities into one section: the Redeem section.
At the top of your screen, select the REDEEM section
Connect your wallet
Enter the BTC address to which you wish to redeem your staked BTC
Specify the amount you want to redeem in stBTC tokens
Click the “Redeem” button
If the transaction is successful, you will see the specified amount sent to the provided BTC address
Submit a bug
If you encounter a bug during your experience, please submit the issue in our Discord #bug-reports channel
What’s next for Stroom?
After launching our testnet, we will spend some time verifying the system's functionality, identifying and fixing bugs, and conducting audits. Why? Our goal is to refine and perfect the system for the mainnet launch, ensuring users receive a polished and seamless experience. What do we consider a seamless experience? First and foremost, it encompasses a robust and secure protocol that facilitates global payment rails, among other features.
Think of this testnet phase as laying the groundwork for a system that revolutionizes how transactions are conducted worldwide. By participating in our testnet, users are contributing to the development of a protocol that aims to offer more than just transactional capabilities—it's about creating a secure and accessible financial ecosystem for everyone, everywhere.
Our ultimate goal is to not just meet but exceed user expectations, transforming the way we think about and engage with digital currencies.
Testnet Resources
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