Westend: Introducing a New Testnet for Polkadot and Kusama

Westend provides a testing environment for our infrastructure partners to test their Polkadot and Kusama deployment and processes.

By PolkadotMay 20, 2020

Westend provides a testing environment for our infrastructure partners to test their Polkadot and Kusama deployment and processes.

Westend is a Polkadot testnet, replacing Polkadot’s previous Alexander testnet

Westend more accurately resembles how you interact with Kusama or Polkadot than Alexander did, allowing teams and developers to build and deploy a parachain or try out Polkadot’s governance, staking, nomination, and validation functionality on a testnet. Validators can test their deployments, especially in the active validator set. Exchanges and wallets can test their transaction submissions. Everything you can do on Polkadot, you will be able to do on Westend.

Why use Westend instead of Kusama or Polkadot?

Westend is for all intents and purposes a testnet. You don’t need KSM or DOT to interact with Westend, making it a perfect testbed for validators to test their active validator set without fear of getting slashed or parachains to test anything before deploying on Polkadot or Kusama. Essentially anything you would want to do on Polkadot or Kusama you can do on Westend without needing KSM or DOT to interact with the network.

To interact with the Westend testnet you will need Westies (WND)

The tokens on this network are called Westies and they purposefully hold no economic value. Like Alexander, Westend has a faucet where you can claim up to 150 mWND(milli Westies) twice per address every 24 hours. Follow the instructions here on acquiring Westies.

Westend has the same parameters as Polkadot like session length and governance enactment period. It accurately resembles how you interact with Kusama or Polkadot. Currently on Westend you can deploy a full, sentry, or validator node, or use Westies for other features like staking, identity and social recovery.

For more information check out Westend’s README, and check out Westend on Telemetry.

Join the discussion on Telegram or subscribe to the newsletter. Learn more about Polkadot in the Polkadot Lightpaper and the Polkadot Wiki.

From the blog

The best Web3 games to play in 2025

2025 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for Web3 games. These are the top titles delivering fun, ownership, and real rewards—with no hype required.

What is decentralized AI? A beginner’s guide to blockchain-powered intelligence

Decentralized AI distributes data, compute, and control. It makes AI more open, private, and community-driven. Learn how Polkadot supports this shift.

How to get involved with Polkadot DAO: A beginner’s guide to OpenGov and Polkassembly

A step-by-step Polkassembly guide for beginners looking to vote, delegate, and participate in Polkadot’s onchain governance system.

Identity on your terms: How decentralized digital identity works

Explore how decentralized identity works and why Polkadot is powering the next era of user-controlled credentials.

Build your own chain, your way: Meet the Polkadot SDK

The Polkadot SDK gives builders full control over blockchain development. Learn how teams use this modular, open-source framework to launch fast, secure, and interoperable networks.

Polkadot's Web3 Philosophy: A legacy of digital freedom from Jobs to Wood

Web3 is the next evolution of personal technology and digital freedom. From Steve Jobs and personal computing to Gavin Wood's vision, explore how Web3 vs Web2 represents individual empowerment over corporate control.

Polkadot at Consensus 2025: Demos, DAO talk, and new audiences

Consensus 2025 leaned into real-world adoption with a crowd that cared about practical use cases and tangible outcomes. Polkadot showed up with demos, onboarding, and a message that kept things grounded.

The gamer’s guide to blockchain: Ownership, influence, and what comes next

Web3 gaming is redefining ownership, player agency, and game design. Discover what’s changing and how Polkadot is helping build more immersive, community-first experiences.

How DePIN is bringing real infrastructure and real users to Web3

Decentralized Mic brought together leaders from Silencio, Acurast, and DePIN Hub to explore how decentralized infrastructure networks are creating real-world utility, rewarding users, and reviving Web3’s original values.

What is the Polkadot DAO? A beginner’s guide to decentralized governance

Get a high-level overview of the Polkadot DAO, including how it coordinates funding, decision-making, and participation across the ecosystem, and how you can get involved.

Chain abstraction and the future of Web3 UX: Insights from Decentralized Mic

Discover how chain abstraction can remove complexity from Web3, improving user experience and enabling multichain applications. Featuring insights from Agoric, Polytope Labs, Sommelier, and Polkadot.

The rise of AI agents in crypto: how DeFAI is reshaping finance

AI agents are transforming DeFi into a more intelligent, autonomous system. Discover how DeFAI is redefining finance, and how Polkadot’s modular design supports this shift.