<p>Bitcoin Core supports creating a <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/master/contrib/signet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">custom signet</a> and <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/19937" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mining utility</a> for setting up a public test network with alternative functionality. This is not meant to be used to create an altcoin with actual or perceived monetary value as I (and many others) would recommend using a sidechain rather than attempting to start a new currency.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Right now, I manage to run bitcoind but it seems to sync from the existing Bitcoin blockchain.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes running bitcoind is for mainnet and <code>bitcoind -testnet</code> and <code>bitcoind -signet</code> are for testnet and the default signet (not custom signets).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-22T01:12:23.550Z
Thanks for the answer. We will not be creating an altcoin but will mainly do it for PoC/research purposes. For instance, if we would like to modify how transaction verification works in Bitcoin, would you recommend doing it on a custom signet or a sidechain?
Michael
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-22T07:58:48.080Z
A sidechain would be for locking up actual Bitcoin (with real monetary value) on mainnet. So if you want to experiment with coins with no monetary value I'd use a custom signet. You should really test what you want to do on signet/testnet before moving to mainnet regardless.
Michael Folkson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-21T13:08:36.153Z
2021-07-21T13:08:36.153Z
Michael Folkson
<p>My goal is to add a new feature to Bitcoin, which requires changing the structure of the Bitcoin blockchain. So I was wondering if Bitcoin Core supports having a new/own Blockchain? If so, how to do it? Right now, I manage to run bitcoind but it seems to sync from the existing Bitcoin blockchain.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-21T20:04:56.260Z
What do you mean by *"changing the structure of the bitcoin blockchain"*? It isn't really clear what you're asking here.
chytrik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-22T01:01:23.127Z
Sorry for the unclear question as we are not exactly sure what kind of change we are going to make yet. However, we will do it for a research purpose. Roughly speaking, we are interested in exploring security of Bitcoin in a different direction, which may require adding a new field in the block header or modify/add the hash/signature algorithms.
Michael
<bitcoin-core><blockchain><bitcoind><bitcoin-core-development>
Does Bitcoin-core support creating a new Bitcoin blockchain?
Michael
# Does Bitcoin-core support creating a new Bitcoin blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-21)

My goal is to add a new feature to Bitcoin, which requires changing the structure of the Bitcoin blockchain. So I was wondering if Bitcoin Core supports having a new/own Blockchain? If so, how to do it? Right now, I manage to run bitcoind but it seems to sync from the existing Bitcoin blockchain.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, blockchain, bitcoind, bitcoin-core-development

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by *"changing the structure of the bitcoin blockchain"*? It isn't really clear what you're asking here.  
> **username_0**: Sorry for the unclear question as we are not exactly sure what kind of change we are going to make yet. However, we will do it for a research purpose. Roughly speaking, we are interested in exploring security of Bitcoin in a different direction, which may require adding a new field in the block header or modify/add the hash/signature algorithms.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-07-21. Score: 2

Bitcoin Core supports creating a [custom signet](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/master/contrib/signet) and [mining utility](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/19937) for setting up a public test network with alternative functionality. This is not meant to be used to create an altcoin with actual or perceived monetary value as I (and many others) would recommend using a sidechain rather than attempting to start a new currency.

> Right now, I manage to run bitcoind but it seems to sync from the existing Bitcoin blockchain.

Yes running bitcoind is for mainnet and `bitcoind -testnet` and `bitcoind -signet` are for testnet and the default signet (not custom signets).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the answer. We will not be creating an altcoin but will mainly do it for PoC/research purposes. For instance, if we would like to modify how transaction verification works in Bitcoin, would you recommend doing it on a custom signet or a sidechain?  
> **username_2**: A sidechain would be for locking up actual Bitcoin (with real monetary value) on mainnet. So if you want to experiment with coins with no monetary value I'd use a custom signet. You should really test what you want to do on signet/testnet before moving to mainnet regardless.  

---

