The Stagenet

Stagenets are private testnets that realistically replicate EVM blockchains. They expose a standard JSON-RPC interface, so you can connect to them using any compatible client—for example, a development framework like Hardhat or Foundry, a wallet like MetaMask, or your app’s frontend via libraries like ethers.js.

Mainnet Replication

Each stagenet replicates a specific EVM chain (e.g., Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, etc.). It does this by starting at one of the chain's historical blocks, typically the latest mainnet block at the time the stagenet is created, and then replaying subsequent blocks one after another, just like a live chain.

As it replays the target chain's blocks, it replicates their historical behaviour in two ways:

• State Sync — the stagenet updates its state to match the target chain's state at the end of each replayed block, keeping it in sync with the original chain.
• Transaction Replay — the stagenet re-executes all historical transactions in the block that involved one or more specific simulated accounts.

For example, if you had deployed a vault that provided liquidity to a Uniswap pool on your stagenet, you could simulate the pool's account and have its state follow its mainnet state and your vault earn yield from real historical swap transactions.

Mining Mode

Stagenets have two mining modes — Replay Mainnet and Instant Mining — which you can switch between at any time.

Replay Mainnet

In Replay Mainnet mode, the stagenet mines historical blocks and transactions, as described in the Mainnet Replication section above. Use this mode when you want your stagenet to feel like mainnet.

Instant Mining

Instant Mining mode makes the stagenet behave like Hardhat’s local network or Foundry’s Anvil. It effectively pauses mainnet replay and allows you to mine transactions instantly. Each incoming transaction is mined in its own block, while the stagenet’s state remains frozen at the initial mainnet block. Use this mode when you want a fast experience similar to Hardhat or Foundry.

Changing Mode

To switch from Replay Mainnet to Instant Mining, pause the stagenet using the Pause button on your project dashboard. This stops replay at the end of the current block, letting you run instant transactions against that state.

To switch back to Replay Mainnet, unpause the stagenet via the dashboard. It will start replaying the mainnet block after the one it forked from or was paused in. Any instant transactions are bundled into the beginning of that block, followed by the replay of any historical mainnet transactions.