user42923: So, I'm just a curious person at this point, I've only just decided to look into Bitcoin and see how it works and what it does. But I'm not sure if I want to try out things on the larger bitcoin network, where there's real money of real value at stake. Is there a way I can setup a local bitcoin "network", with its own blockchain, etc. for testing purposes?

user31586: Yes. You can run bitcoind in regtest mode. In that mode, you can produce your own "bitcoins" for testing purposes. 

42923: <p>So, I'm just a curious person at this point, I've only just decided to look into Bitcoin and see how it works and what it does. But I'm not sure if I want to try out things on the larger bitcoin network, where there's real money of real value at stake. Is there a way I can setup a local bitcoin "network", with its own blockchain, etc. for testing purposes?</p>
 31586: <p>Yes. You can run bitcoind in <code>regtest</code> mode. In that mode, you can produce your own "bitcoins" for testing purposes. </p>
