Babylon, a Bitcoin staking protocol under development since 2022, has launched its testnet to the public.

The testnet is built on BTC Signet, a test network for Bitcoin, so no real bitcoin is at stake, Babylon said Wednesday.

This is Babylon's first testnet of its staking protocol. "We will have multiple steps ahead of mainnet," Babylon co-founder David Tse told The Block. "Some of these steps will enable users to lock real bitcoin and get staking points, including during post-audit and incentivized testnet," he said.

The post-audit testnets are expected to launch between May and June, with the mainnet slated for late 2024, Tse added.

Babylon testnet participation and rewards

To take part in Babylon's testnet, users will need to download browser extensions of OKX and Keplr wallets …