Ethereum is a popular and widely used network among Web3 developers. However, there is a downside to this, which relates to high gas fees and lower network speed. As a result, developers are finding ways to find economically viable solutions, such as the Polygon network.
If you are worried about high gas fees, here is our blog post on how to lower gas fees on metamask.
Talking about Polygon, it’s an Ethereum-based decentralized platform known for high scalability and low transaction fees. Although Polygon is affordable, developers can still find other options like testnet. Mumbai testnet is a viable option by Polygon, which can be acquired as free tokens via a Mumbai testnet faucet.
If you are interested in knowing how to get free testnet Matic Tokens, read on. Here, we have shared the complete procedure for obtaining such tokens. In addition, we have also briefly discussed faucets, the Mumbai testnet, and their importance.
So, let’s start!
What is the Mumbai Testnet?
Mumbai testnet is a replica of Polygon’s mainnet, which is slightly different and has distinctive features. These tokens don’t have any value, yet developers can use them to test their dapps without paying the gas fee. Once a developer has launched a dapp to the mainnet, the Mumbai testnet can also be used to upgrade the project.
This is beneficial, as developers can easily test the changes made to a dapp without making real commitments. It also applies to the development of smart contracts, as it’s possible to test them before deployment.
What is a Faucet, and Why is it Important?
When it comes to the benefits of using Mumbai testnet, these are numerous. This particular testnet saves time, money, and resources. However, before using the Mumbai testnet, you must acquire the native token launched by the network. This is the area where faucets make an entry into the scene.
Faucets are websites or applications distributing small tokens for developers to pay the gas fees. Hence, you can use faucets for the Mumbai testnet to acquire the tokens free of cost. The native token is also referred to as MATIC. These tokens are different from the native token launched by Polygon.
Faucets aren’t only available with Polygon, but they are also available with other networks. This suggests that you can easily find faucets associated with Ethereum, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, and other blockchains. Hence, you can also get free testnet tokens for different mainnet.
How to Get Free Testnet MATIC Tokens
This section talks about the process of acquiring free testnet MATIC tokens. Getting these types of token is easy if you follow the key steps mentioned below.
Step 1: Acquiring MetaMask Wallet
This is the first step towards getting free MATIC tokens. It involves setting up the MetaMask. If you have already created an account with MetaMask, skip this section. First, you need to know that MetaMask is available in mobile and desktop versions.
Here, we will show how to install and use the desktop extension of a MetaMask wallet. First, download the MetaMask for your browser. This is simple, visit the official website of MetaMask and click the “Download” button.
After adding the extension, it’s time to create an account. Here, you can choose between two different options. You can import an already existing wallet using the seed phrase or create a new one. Both these options work perfectly well for getting free testnet tokens.
When creating a MetaMask account from scratch, carefully follow the instructions. Also, ensure to secure the phrase safe, as it’s the only way you can recover your lost MetaMask wallet. Once you have created an account, you can find a dropdown menu named ‘Networks.’
When opening this menu, you will find that Mumbai testnet is not listed among the list of default networks. This is so, as we have to add this network manually. For this purpose, just look at the section below showing how to add a Mumbai testnet to a MetaMask wallet.
Step 2: Adding the Mumbai Testnet to MetaMask
Here, we will discuss two ways to add Mumbai testnet to your MetaMask wallet. The first method is referred to as the Moralis option. This method requires you to sign up with Moralis.
By doing so, you can add Mumbai testnet to a MetaMask wallet without difficulty. Besides, Moralis can be beneficial for those who frequently work on Web3 development projects.
Once signed in to a Moralis account, you need to find the "Speedy Nodes" tab and click on the "Endpoints" button. In the end, click on “Add to MetaMask”, which will add Mumbai to your MetaMask’s list of networks.
The other method of adding Mumbai to MetaMask is using “Chainlist.wtf”. After landing on the home page of Chainlist.wtf, just look for the Mumbai testnet. After finding it, click on the "Connect Wallet" button.
As a result, you will be given the option to authenticate with WalletConnect or MetaMask. Those using a mobile app can take advantage of WalletConnect when it comes to adding Mumbai testnet to the MetaMask network.
On the other hand, you can click on the MetaMask alternatives. This would prompt your desired extension. Now you need to follow the instructions provided by MetaMask. In the end, you will successfully add Mumbai to your MetaMask wallet!
Step 3: Getting the Free Testnet Tokens
After you have added Mumbai testnet to the wallet, the next step is to get the free tokens. For this purpose, you need to open your MetaMask wallet and go to the dropdown menu named “Networks”. This time you will find the recently added Mumbai testnet.
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Once you have selected the Mumbai testnet, you need to copy your wallet address. Now go to https://faucet.polygon.technology, pass your MetaMask wallet address to the relevant fields, and hit the submit button.
In the end, just hit the confirm button.
After doing this, the faucet will add 0.5 MATIC to your MetaMask account. You can use this token for launching and testing dapps while using Mumbai testnet. Usually, it takes a while for the free MATIC tokens to appear in the wallet. Hence, if the token doesn’t appear immediately, you must wait a bit.
This is the simplest way to acquire a MATIC token via Mumbai testnet faucet. You can use a similar process when developing dapps for other types of blockchains. For instance, you can add a token for an Ethereum testnet without hassle.
Final Thoughts
If you have some knowledge regarding Web3, you might have known that all types of blockchains charge gas fees for transactions. However, it’s beneficial to try out dapps by launching on a testnet without committing your assets to a mainnet. For this purpose, you can take advantage of free testnet MATIC tokens. If you need these free tokens, just follow the procedure discussed above.
