diff --git a/lib/address.js b/lib/address.js
index e199a295d..a7ccddf04 100644
--- a/lib/address.js
+++ b/lib/address.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var Hash = require('./crypto/hash');
  * 
  *
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data in various formats
- * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} [type] - The type of address: 'script' or 'pubkey'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  * @constructor
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ function Address(data, network, type) {
     throw new TypeError('First argument is required, please include address data.');
   }
 
-  if (network && (network !== 'mainnet' && network !== 'testnet')) {
-    throw new TypeError('Second argument must be "mainnet" or "testnet".');
+  if (network && (network !== 'livenet' && network !== 'testnet')) {
+    throw new TypeError('Second argument must be "livenet" or "testnet".');
   }
 
   if (type && (type !== 'pubkeyhash' && type !== 'scripthash')) {
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function Address(data, network, type) {
   }
 
   // set defaults if not set
-  info.network = info.network || network || 'mainnet';
+  info.network = info.network || network || 'livenet';
   info.type = info.type || type || 'pubkeyhash';
 
   // set the validated values
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ Address._transformHash = function(hash){
  * Internal function to transform a bitcoin address buffer
  *
  * @param {Buffer} buffer - An instance of a hex encoded address Buffer
- * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} [type] - The type: 'pubkeyhash' or 'scripthash'
  * @returns {Object} An object with keys: hashBuffer, network and type
  * @private
@@ -121,13 +121,13 @@ Address._transformBuffer = function(buffer, network, type){
   var bufType = false;
 
   switch(buffer[0]){ // the version byte
-    case networks.mainnet.pubkeyhash:
-      bufNetwork = 'mainnet';
+    case networks.livenet.pubkeyhash:
+      bufNetwork = 'livenet';
       bufType = 'pubkeyhash';
       break;
 
-    case networks.mainnet.scripthash:
-      bufNetwork = 'mainnet';
+    case networks.livenet.scripthash:
+      bufNetwork = 'livenet';
       bufType = 'scripthash';
       break;
     
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ Address._transformScript = function(script){
  * Internal function to transform a bitcoin address string
  *
  * @param {String} data - An instance of PublicKey
- * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} [type] - The type: 'pubkeyhash' or 'scripthash'
  * @returns {Object} An object with keys: hashBuffer, network and type
  * @private
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ Address._transformString = function(data, network, type){
  * Instantiate an address from a PublicKey instance
  *
  * @param {String} data - An instance of PublicKey
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
 Address.fromPublicKey = function(data, network){
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ Address.fromPublicKey = function(data, network){
  * Instantiate an address from a ripemd160 public key hash
  *
  * @param {Buffer} hash - An instance of buffer of the hash
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
 Address.fromPublicKeyHash = function(hash, network) {
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ Address.fromPublicKeyHash = function(hash, network) {
  * Instantiate an address from a ripemd160 script hash
  *
  * @param {Buffer} hash - An instance of buffer of the hash
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
 Address.fromScriptHash = function(hash, network) {
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ Address.fromScriptHash = function(hash, network) {
  * Instantiate an address from a Script
  *
  * @param {Script} script - An instance of Script
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
 Address.fromScript = function(script, network) {
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ Address.fromScript = function(script, network) {
  * Instantiate an address from a buffer of the address
  *
  * @param {Buffer} buffer - An instance of buffer of the address
- * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} [type] - The type of address: 'script' or 'pubkey'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ Address.fromBuffer = function(buffer, network, type) {
  * Instantiate an address from an address string
  *
  * @param {String} str - An string of the bitcoin address
- * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} [network] - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} [type] - The type of address: 'script' or 'pubkey'
  * @returns {Address} A new valid and frozen instance of an Address
  */
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ Address.fromString = function(str, network, type) {
  * // a network mismatch error
  *
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} type - The type of address: 'script' or 'pubkey'
  * @returns {null|Error} The corresponding error message
  */
@@ -321,11 +321,11 @@ Address.getValidationError = function(data, network, type) {
  *
  * @example
  *
- * var valid = Address.isValid('15vkcKf7gB23wLAnZLmbVuMiiVDc1Nm4a2', 'mainnet');
+ * var valid = Address.isValid('15vkcKf7gB23wLAnZLmbVuMiiVDc1Nm4a2', 'livenet');
  * // true
  *
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data
- * @param {String} network - The network: 'mainnet' or 'testnet'
+ * @param {String} network - The network: 'livenet' or 'testnet'
  * @param {String} type - The type of address: 'script' or 'pubkey'
  * @returns {null|Error} The corresponding error message
  */
diff --git a/lib/privatekey.js b/lib/privatekey.js
index eb9a4dbd8..6cf53e788 100644
--- a/lib/privatekey.js
+++ b/lib/privatekey.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ var PublicKey = require('./publickey');
  * var imported = PrivateKey.fromWIF(exported);
  * 
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data in various formats
- * @param {String} [network] - Either "mainnet" or "testnet"
+ * @param {String} [network] - Either "livenet" or "testnet"
  * @param {Boolean} [compressed] - If the key is in compressed format
  * @returns {PrivateKey} A new valid instance of an PrivateKey
  * @constructor
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ var PrivateKey = function PrivateKey(data, network, compressed) {
 
   var info = {
     compressed: typeof(compressed) !== 'undefined' ? compressed : true,
-    network: network || 'mainnet'
+    network: network || 'livenet'
   };
 
   // detect type of data
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ var PrivateKey = function PrivateKey(data, network, compressed) {
     throw new TypeError('Number must be less than N');
   }
   if (typeof(networks[info.network]) === 'undefined') {
-    throw new TypeError('Must specify the network ("mainnet" or "testnet")');
+    throw new TypeError('Must specify the network ("livenet" or "testnet")');
   }
   if (typeof(info.compressed) !== 'boolean') {
     throw new TypeError('Must specify whether the corresponding public key is compressed or not (true or false)');
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ PrivateKey._getRandomBN = function(){
  * Internal function to transform a WIF Buffer into a private key 
  *
  * @param {Buffer} buf - An WIF string 
- * @param {String} [network] - Either "mainnet" or "testnet"
+ * @param {String} [network] - Either "livenet" or "testnet"
  * @param {String} [compressed] - If the private key is compressed
  * @returns {Object} An object with keys: bn, network and compressed
  * @private
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ PrivateKey._transformBuffer = function(buf, network, compressed) {
     throw new Error('Length of buffer must be 33 (uncompressed) or 34 (compressed)');
   }
 
-  if (buf[0] === networks.mainnet.privatekey) {
-    info.network = 'mainnet';
+  if (buf[0] === networks.livenet.privatekey) {
+    info.network = 'livenet';
   } else if (buf[0] === networks.testnet.privatekey) {
     info.network = 'testnet';
   } else {
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ PrivateKey.fromJSON = function(json) {
  *
  * Instantiate a PrivateKey from random bytes
  *
- * @param {String} [network] - Either "mainnet" or "testnet"
+ * @param {String} [network] - Either "livenet" or "testnet"
  * @param {String} [compressed] - If the private key is compressed
  * @returns {PrivateKey} A new valid instance of PrivateKey
  */
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ PrivateKey.fromString = function(str) {
  * Check if there would be any errors when initializing a PrivateKey
  *
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data in various formats
- * @param {String} [network] - Either "mainnet" or "testnet"
+ * @param {String} [network] - Either "livenet" or "testnet"
  * @param {String} [compressed] - If the private key is compressed
  * @returns {null|Error} An error if exists
  */
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ PrivateKey.getValidationError = function(data, network, compressed) {
  * Check if the parameters are valid
  *
  * @param {String} data - The encoded data in various formats
- * @param {String} [network] - Either "mainnet" or "testnet"
+ * @param {String} [network] - Either "livenet" or "testnet"
  * @param {String} [compressed] - If the private key is compressed
  * @returns {Boolean} If the private key is would be valid
  */
diff --git a/test/address.js b/test/address.js
index 80f363f5c..00ed0b0de 100644
--- a/test/address.js
+++ b/test/address.js
@@ -23,17 +23,17 @@ describe('Address', function() {
   it('should throw an error because of bad network param', function() {
     (function(){
       var a = new Address(validAddresses[0], 'main', 'pubkeyhash');
-    }).should.throw('Second argument must be "mainnet" or "testnet".');
+    }).should.throw('Second argument must be "livenet" or "testnet".');
   });
 
   it('should throw an error because of bad type param', function() {
     (function() {
-      var a = new Address(validAddresses[0], 'mainnet', 'pubkey');
+      var a = new Address(validAddresses[0], 'livenet', 'pubkey');
     }).should.throw('Third argument must be "pubkeyhash" or "scripthash"');
   });
 
 
-  // mainnet valid
+  // livenet valid
   var validAddresses = [
     '15vkcKf7gB23wLAnZLmbVuMiiVDc1Nm4a2',
     '1A6ut1tWnUq1SEQLMr4ttDh24wcbJ5o9TT',
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
     '1Jz2yCRd5ST1p2gUqFB5wsSQfdm3jaFfg7'
   ];
 
-  // mainnet p2sh
+  // livenet p2sh
   var validp2shAddresses = [
     '342ftSRCvFHfCeFFBuz4xwbeqnDw6BGUey',
     '33vt8ViH5jsr115AGkW6cEmEz9MpvJSwDk',
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
     '2NB72XtkjpnATMggui83aEtPawyyKvnbX2o'
   ];
 
-  //mainnet bad checksums
+  //livenet bad checksums
   var badChecksums = [
     '15vkcKf7gB23wLAnZLmbVuMiiVDc3nq4a2',
     '1A6ut1tWnUq1SEQLMr4ttDh24wcbj4w2TT',
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
     '1Jz2yCRd5ST1p2gUqFB5wsSQfdmEJaffg7'
   ];
 
-  //mainnet non-base58
+  //livenet non-base58
   var nonBase58 = [
     '15vkcKf7g#23wLAnZLmb$uMiiVDc3nq4a2',
     '1A601ttWnUq1SEQLMr4ttDh24wcbj4w2TT',
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
   describe('validation', function() {
 
-    it('should describe this mainnet address as an invalid testnet address', function() {
+    it('should describe this livenet address as an invalid testnet address', function() {
       var error = Address.getValidationError('37BahqRsFrAd3qLiNNwLNV3AWMRD7itxTo', 'testnet');
       should.exist(error);
     });
 
     it('should should return a true boolean', function(){
-      var valid = Address.isValid('37BahqRsFrAd3qLiNNwLNV3AWMRD7itxTo', 'mainnet');
+      var valid = Address.isValid('37BahqRsFrAd3qLiNNwLNV3AWMRD7itxTo', 'livenet');
       valid.should.equal(true);
     });
 
@@ -128,14 +128,14 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should validate addresses with params', function() {
       for(var i=0;i<validAddresses.length;i++){
-        var error = Address.getValidationError(validAddresses[i], 'mainnet');
+        var error = Address.getValidationError(validAddresses[i], 'livenet');
         should.not.exist(error);
       }
     });
 
     it('should not validate because of an invalid checksum', function() {
       for(var i=0;i<badChecksums.length;i++){
-        var error = Address.getValidationError(badChecksums[i], 'mainnet', 'pubkeyhash');
+        var error = Address.getValidationError(badChecksums[i], 'livenet', 'pubkeyhash');
         should.exist(error);
         error.message.should.equal('Checksum mismatch');
       }
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should not validate because of a mismatched type', function() {
       for(var i=0;i<validAddresses.length;i++){
-        var error = Address.getValidationError(validAddresses[i], 'mainnet', 'scripthash');
+        var error = Address.getValidationError(validAddresses[i], 'livenet', 'scripthash');
         should.exist(error);
         error.message.should.equal('Address has mismatched type.');
       }
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should not validate because of non-base58 characters', function() {
       for(var i=0;i<nonBase58.length;i++){
-        var error = Address.getValidationError(nonBase58[i], 'mainnet', 'pubkeyhash');
+        var error = Address.getValidationError(nonBase58[i], 'livenet', 'pubkeyhash');
         should.exist(error);
         error.message.should.equal('Non-base58 character');
       }
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should not validate testnet addresses because of mismatched network', function() {
       for(var i=0;i<testValidAddresses.length;i++){
-        var error = Address.getValidationError(testValidAddresses[i], 'mainnet', 'pubkeyhash');
+        var error = Address.getValidationError(testValidAddresses[i], 'livenet', 'pubkeyhash');
         should.exist(error);
         error.message.should.equal('Address has mismatched network type.');
       }
@@ -274,9 +274,9 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should make this address from an uncompressed pubkey', function() {
       var pubkey = PublicKey.fromDER(new Buffer('0485e9737a74c30a873f74df05124f2aa6f53042c2fc0a130d6cbd7d16b944b004833fef26c8be4c4823754869ff4e46755b85d851077771c220e2610496a29d98', 'hex'));
-      var a = Address.fromPublicKey(pubkey, 'mainnet');
+      var a = Address.fromPublicKey(pubkey, 'livenet');
       a.toString().should.equal('16JXnhxjJUhxfyx4y6H4sFcxrgt8kQ8ewX');
-      var b = new Address(pubkey, 'mainnet', 'pubkeyhash');
+      var b = new Address(pubkey, 'livenet', 'pubkeyhash');
       b.toString().should.equal('16JXnhxjJUhxfyx4y6H4sFcxrgt8kQ8ewX');
     });
 
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
       b.toString().should.equal('347iRqVwks5r493N1rsLN4k9J7Ljg488W7');
     });
 
-    it('should derive from this known address string mainnet', function() {
+    it('should derive from this known address string livenet', function() {
       var address = new Address(str);
       var buffer = address.toBuffer();
       var slice = buffer.slice(1);
@@ -314,8 +314,8 @@ describe('Address', function() {
       b.network.should.equal('testnet');
     });
 
-    it('should derive from this known address string mainnet scripthash', function() {
-      var a = new Address(validp2shAddresses[0], 'mainnet', 'scripthash');
+    it('should derive from this known address string livenet scripthash', function() {
+      var a = new Address(validp2shAddresses[0], 'livenet', 'scripthash');
       var b = new Address(a.toString());
       b.toString().should.equal(validp2shAddresses[0]);
     });
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
   describe('#toString', function() {
 
-    it('should output a mainnet pubkeyhash address', function() {
+    it('should output a livenet pubkeyhash address', function() {
       var address = new Address(str);
       address.toString().should.equal(str);
     });
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
 
     it('should output formatted output correctly', function() {
       var address = new Address(str);
-      var output = '<Address: 16VZnHwRhwrExfeHFHGjwrgEMq8VcYPs9r, type: pubkeyhash, network: mainnet>';
+      var output = '<Address: 16VZnHwRhwrExfeHFHGjwrgEMq8VcYPs9r, type: pubkeyhash, network: livenet>';
       address.inspect().should.equal(output);
     });
 
diff --git a/test/privatekey.js b/test/privatekey.js
index 76663d3cf..6cc5a853a 100644
--- a/test/privatekey.js
+++ b/test/privatekey.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   var buf = new Buffer(hex, 'hex');
   var enctestnet = 'cSdkPxkAjA4HDr5VHgsebAPDEh9Gyub4HK8UJr2DFGGqKKy4K5sG';
   var enctu = '92jJzK4tbURm1C7udQXxeCBvXHoHJstDXRxAMouPG1k1XUaXdsu';
-  var encmainnet = 'L2Gkw3kKJ6N24QcDuH4XDqt9cTqsKTVNDGz1CRZhk9cq4auDUbJy';
+  var enclivenet = 'L2Gkw3kKJ6N24QcDuH4XDqt9cTqsKTVNDGz1CRZhk9cq4auDUbJy';
   var encmu = '5JxgQaFM1FMd38cd14e3mbdxsdSa9iM2BV6DHBYsvGzxkTNQ7Un';
 
   it('should create a new random private key', function() {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
 
   it('should not be able to instantiate private key because of compression mismatch', function() {
     (function() {
-      var a = new PrivateKey('L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m', 'mainnet', false);
+      var a = new PrivateKey('L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m', 'livenet', false);
     }).should.throw('Private key compression mismatch');
   });
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   it('should not be able to instantiate with unknown network', function() {
     (function() {
       var a = new PrivateKey(null, 'unknown');
-    }).should.throw('Must specify the network ("mainnet" or "testnet")');
+    }).should.throw('Must specify the network ("livenet" or "testnet")');
   });
 
   it('should create a 0 private key with this convenience method', function() {
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
     privkey.bn.toString().should.equal(bn.toString());
   });
 
-  it('should create a mainnet private key', function() {
-    var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'mainnet', true);
-    privkey.toString().should.equal(encmainnet);
+  it('should create a livenet private key', function() {
+    var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'livenet', true);
+    privkey.toString().should.equal(enclivenet);
   });
 
   it('should create an uncompressed testnet private key', function() {
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
     privkey.toString().should.equal(enctu);
   });
 
-  it('should create an uncompressed mainnet private key', function() {
-    var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'mainnet', false);
+  it('should create an uncompressed livenet private key', function() {
+    var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'livenet', false);
     privkey.toString().should.equal(encmu);
   });
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   });
 
   describe('#toAddress', function() {
-    it('should output this known mainnet address correctly', function() {
+    it('should output this known livenet address correctly', function() {
       var privkey = PrivateKey.fromWIF('L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m');
       var address = privkey.toAddress();
       address.toString().should.equal('1A6ut1tWnUq1SEQLMr4ttDh24wcbJ5o9TT');
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   });
 
   describe('#inspect', function() {
-    it('should output known mainnet address for console', function() {
+    it('should output known livenet address for console', function() {
       var privkey = PrivateKey.fromWIF('L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m');
-      privkey.inspect().should.equal('<PrivateKey: L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m, compressed: true, network: mainnet>');
+      privkey.inspect().should.equal('<PrivateKey: L3T1s1TYP9oyhHpXgkyLoJFGniEgkv2Jhi138d7R2yJ9F4QdDU2m, compressed: true, network: livenet>');
     });
 
     it('should output known testnet address for console', function() {
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
 
   describe('#toBuffer', function() {
     it('should output known buffer', function() {
-      var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'mainnet', true);
+      var privkey = new PrivateKey(BN.fromBuffer(buf), 'livenet', true);
       var b = privkey.toBuffer().toString('hex').should.equal(buf.toString('hex'));
     });
   });
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   describe('#toBigNumber', function() {
     it('should output known BN', function() {
       var a = BN.fromBuffer(buf);
-      var privkey = new PrivateKey(a, 'mainnet', true);
+      var privkey = new PrivateKey(a, 'livenet', true);
       var b = privkey.toBigNumber();
       b.toString('hex').should.equal(a.toString('hex'));
     });
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
   describe('#fromWIF', function() {
 
     it('should parse this compressed testnet address correctly', function() {
-      var privkey = PrivateKey.fromWIF(encmainnet);
-      privkey.toWIF().should.equal(encmainnet);
+      var privkey = PrivateKey.fromWIF(enclivenet);
+      privkey.toWIF().should.equal(enclivenet);
     });
 
   });
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
 
   describe('#toString', function() {
 
-    it('should parse this uncompressed mainnet address correctly', function() {
+    it('should parse this uncompressed livenet address correctly', function() {
       var privkey = PrivateKey.fromString(encmu);
       privkey.toString().should.equal(encmu);
     });