diff --git a/blockchain/transaction_execute.go b/blockchain/transaction_execute.go
index 2a3bb7b4..8f2349b8 100644
--- a/blockchain/transaction_execute.go
+++ b/blockchain/transaction_execute.go
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ func (chain *Blockchain) process_transaction(changed map[crypto.Hash]*graviton.T
 
 		zerobalance := crypto.ConstructElGamal(acckey.G1(), crypto.ElGamal_BASE_G)
 
-		if !globals.IsMainnet() { // give testnet users a dummy amount to play
-			zerobalance = zerobalance.Plus(new(big.Int).SetUint64(800000)) // add fix amount to every wallet to users balance for more testing
+		if !globals.IsMainnet() || chain.simulator { // give testnet users a dummy amount to play
+			zerobalance = zerobalance.Plus(new(big.Int).SetUint64(100000000)) // add fix amount to every wallet to users balance for more testing
 		}
 
 		// give new wallets generated in initial month a balance
diff --git a/cmd/simulator/simulator.go b/cmd/simulator/simulator.go
index 607fe2a0..5bfefbdf 100644
--- a/cmd/simulator/simulator.go
+++ b/cmd/simulator/simulator.go
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ func main() {
 		rpcport = globals.Arguments["--rpc-bind"].(string)
 	}
 	globals.Arguments["--rpc-bind"] = rpcport
-	globals.Arguments["--testnet"] = true
+	// Only set --testnet if user explicitly provided it, otherwise default to mainnet
+	if globals.Arguments["--testnet"] == nil {
+		globals.Arguments["--testnet"] = false
+	}
 	globals.Arguments["--simulator"] = true
 	globals.Arguments["--daemon-address"] = rpcport // feed it for wallets
 
diff --git a/globals/globals.go b/globals/globals.go
index be27158c..85a8cfc3 100644
--- a/globals/globals.go
+++ b/globals/globals.go
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ var Dialer proxy.Dialer = proxy.Direct // for proxy and direct connections
 var Arguments = map[string]interface{}{}
 
 func InitNetwork() {
-	Config = config.Mainnet                    // default is mainnnet
-	if Arguments["--testnet"].(bool) == true { // setup testnet if requested
+	Config = config.Mainnet // default is mainnet
+	// Handle nil case: if --testnet not provided, defaults to mainnet
+	if testnet, ok := Arguments["--testnet"].(bool); ok && testnet {
 		Config = config.Testnet
 	}
-
 }
 
 // these 2 global variables control all log levels