How to Get Goerli Testnet ETH Tokens
Goerli ETH tokens are needed for the Goerli Testnet to test new dApps before they are deployed on the mainnet. You can get Goerli Testnet ETH tokens from Alchemy and Quicknode faucets by connecting your wallet.
Key Takeaways
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The Goerli testnet is one of the most popular Ethereum test networks as projects choose it as their preferred environment for testing their decentralized applications before the final launch.
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Goerli testnet works just like the Ethereum main network and uses a native token known as Goerli ETH. Performing native activities (such as paying transaction fees) on the Goerli testnet requires the Goerli ETH.
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Goerli ETH is distributed for free to anyone who wishes to operate on the network. You can claim Goerli ETH from the official faucet, partner faucets like Alchemy and Quicknode, and other independent faucets.
Goerli ETH is needed by developers who wish to test out their decentralized application on the Goerli test network before deploying it on the main network, or blockchain enthusiasts who wish to check out these dApps before their official launch. With the rise of the vertical scaling narrative, Goerli ETH plays a key role in enabling users to test out Layer 2 networks before their official launch (and potentially netting some airdrops in the process). Unlike almost all cryptocurrencies, Goerli ETH is technically not made to be traded and can be claimed for free on some independent faucets and the official Goerli testnet.
Do note that while the Goerli testnet is still active, it will likely be sunset in Q4 2023 based on information from Ethereum Magicians. Moving forward, the Ethereum community recommends users to use Sepolia to test dApps, smart contracts, and other EVM functionalities, and Holesky for testing staking features, infrastructures and protocols.
In the meantime, given that there are still numerous applications running tests on Goerli, including projects launching on Linea, here’s how you can get some Goerli ETH from free faucets:
Claim Goerli ETH on the Alchemy Goerli Faucet
Alchemy allows registered users to claim up to 0.02 Goerli ETH daily at the time of writing.
Step 1: To claim Goerli ETH on Alchemy, visit the platform and sign up.
Step 2: Visit the faucet platform.
Step 3: Enter your wallet address and click “Send me ETH” to receive Goerli ETH in your wallet.
Claim Goerli ETH on the Quicknode Faucet
Step 1: To claim Goerli on Quicknode, visit the Quicknode Goerli ETH faucet.
Step 2: Connect your wallet to the platform. MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and other web3 wallets are supported on the network.
Step 3: Confirm your wallet and proceed to claim 0.1 GETH.
Note that your wallet must hold a minimum of 0.001 ETH on the Ethereum mainnet to use the Quicknode Goerli ETH faucet. Quicknode extends its faucet services to the Sepolia testnet and several other blockchain testnets including Polygon’s Mumbai and zkEVM Goerli.
Other Goerli ETH Faucets
Apart from the options mentioned above, you can also obtain some Goerli ETH from a number of other faucets. The claiming procedure is the same: Visit the platform, connect your wallet, and claim.
Some platforms require you to perform some social tasks or complete a few challenges. Always verify the authenticity of these independent faucets before interacting with them, as interacting with malicious faucets can lead to loss of funds from wallet hacks.
Goerlifaucet.org claims to allow users to claim up to 0.2 Goerli ETH daily. To do so, users will need to verify their wallet addresses on the project’s Telegram channel.
Purchase on LayerZero
Again, it is important to state that Goerli ETH isn't meant to be sold like a normal crypto asset. However, due to the demand shock, getting a significant amount of Goerli ETH in a short period of time might cost you some real money. The faucets listed above can only distribute a limited amount of Goerli ETH at specific time intervals. In the event you need to purchase Goerli ETH, here’s how you can buy Goerli ETH on LayerZero.
Visit the Goerli testnet bridge developed by LayerZero and connect your wallet.
Enter the amount of Goerli ETH you wish to purchase and pay a corresponding amount of ETH at the presiding exchange rate.
The LayerZero bridge opens up the Goerli Testnet and allows supported assets to be seamlessly bridged from the testnet to the main network.
What Can Goerli ETH Be Used For?
Now that you have received some Goerli ETH, let’s look at what your new assets can be used for. Goerli ETH is basically a testnet token for the Goerli network and cannot be bridged to other test networks at this time.
You can use your Goerli ETH to:
Test decentralized applications on the Goerli Network: As a developer who just built a new decentralized solution to be deployed on the Ethereum network, it is important to test the features and ensure that they meet optimal security and performance requirements. Testing with Goerli ETH is a safe way to ensure that the application is working as intended, without any risks of actual financial losses in the event issues occur.
This also applies to blockchain enthusiasts who wish to test new applications or benefit from incentivized testnets. You can also use Goerli ETH to test out upcoming decentralized applications like Scroll, and get in the running to potentially score some airdropped tokens when the protocol launches.
Get a feel of how the Ethereum and other EVM networks work: As a newbie in the crypto space, it can be a little overwhelming to understand the basics of routine cryptocurrency transactions and smart contract interaction. To avoid losses whenever you make a mistake in your learning process, you can use the Goerli network to test-run the Ethereum network before committing your investments.
Swap for some real Ether: As described above, you can spend some real ETH to obtain some Goerli ETH; the reverse route is also possible. You can trade your Goerli ETH for ETH at the presiding rate on supported exchanges, and at the time of writing, you can swap about 13,300 Goerli ETH for 1 ETH. This is also a cost-free way to learn how decentralized exchanges work and get real value for your test tokens (although you'll need a lot of Goerli ETH if you're looking for a crypto income stream).
What is Goerli Testnet?
Finally, let's look at what the Goerli testnet is and how it works.
The Goerli network is just like any other blockchain network. It is a distributed ledger system with a consensus mechanism that relies on the network participants to validate data that gets added to the network. Goerli network is EVM compatible but it is gated away from the Ethereum network; hence activities on the testnet have no effect on the main network.
Developers increasingly opt for Goerli as a test environment for their new applications and smart contracts. Besides the relatively high throughput of the Goerli testnet, it also supports a wide range of node software such as Geth, Parity, Nethermind, and Hyperledger. Alternatives test networks like Rinkeby and Kovan only support Geth and Parity respectively. These let Goerli provide a safe space for developers to test dApps before deploying to the main network.
Goerli testnet runs on the Proof of Authority (POA) consensus mechanism and uses Goerli ETH as its native token.
Goerli Testnet vs. Ethereum Network
The most obvious differences between Ethereum main network and the Goerli testnet is that the Ethereum token network on the Ethereum mainnet is tradable and the applications on the mainnet are the publicly released versions for real transactions. However, Goerli ETH is originally not meant to be traded, and applications deployed on the network are only for testing purposes.
Originally, the Goerli testnet ran on the permissioned Proof of Authority consensus mechanism. However, in 2022, Goerli testnet transitioned to the Proof of Stake (POS) consensus mechanism, which is also used by the Ethereum mainnet. As in the case of Ethereum, anyone who meets the validator requirements can also run a validator for Goerli.
The POA consensus mechanism requires validators to verify their real identity as a way of ensuring that they don’t approve malicious blocks and distort the network. In contrast, POS requires validators to stake a tangible amount of assets to the network as a way of making sure they are committed to the network and won’t approve malicious blocks.
What Is Next For The Goerli Testnet?
The Goerli testnet will be sunset in Q4 2023, and developers and users are encouraged to move to the other Ethereum testnets, Sepolia and Holesky, for testing purposes, with Holesky as the successor of the Goerli testnet. Unlike the Goerli testnet, which suffered supply friction due to the lack of Goerli testnet ETH, there will be about 1.6 billion Holesky ETH available on the network, with the goal of keeping the participation barrier for testing programs as low as possible.
Also, as the Holesky testnet is intended to serve as a staking, infrastructure, and protocol-developer testnet, Holesky has over 1.4 million validators, as opposed to Goerli's 500,0000 and Ethereum's 700,000. This high validator count is to create an environment to enable developers to test an application and detect possible scaling issues that could occur when deploying to a main network with a higher validator count than the testing network.
Meanwhile, developers who are more focused on EVM-related functions and application development can use the Sepolia testnet, which has an uncapped supply of testnet tokens. Sepolia also has a closed validator set, which is controlled by the client and testing teams.
Final Thoughts
Goerli ETH gets more scarce with each new project that deploys on the testnet. On the upside, it is becoming the favorite test environment for independent projects launching on the Ethereum blockchain and also for new updates or upgrades for the Ethereum main network. The scarcity is thanks to the proliferation of Web3 projects and the recent interest in incentivized testnet programs. The token supply is wearing out against the demand shock, resulting in Goerli ETH unintentionally evolving into a tradable cryptocurrency.
As a user, you can follow the guides in this article to claim as much Goerli ETH as possible. You may choose to conserve these tokens for testing out projects that interest you. Besides possibly earning a share of airdropped tokens, you can also assist in testing to ensure the safety of smart contract applications.
This article is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice or an endorsement of mentioned protocols.
Joel is deeply interested in the technologies behind cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. In his over 7 years of involvement in the space, he helps startups build a stronger internet presence through written content. Follow the author on Twitter @agboifesinachi
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