- Ethereum developers are replacing the Holesky testnet with Hoodi after Holesky became unusable due to issues caused by the Pectra upgrade.
- Hoodi will serve as the final testing ground for Pectra before its expected mainnet deployment on April 25.
Ethereum’s developer community is making significant strides in testing and upgrading the network, with a major shift from the Holesky testnet to a new testing environment called Hoodi. This move comes after Holesky was rendered ineffective due to technical failures following the implementation of the much-anticipated Pectra upgrade.
The End of Holesky
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) announced on March 19 that it would be sunsetting Holesky. This decision follows the network’s breakdown last month when the Pectra upgrade caused issues that left the validator set unusable for weeks. While developers managed to implement a fix in March, Holesky continued to face congestion, making it impractical for testing the full validator lifecycle. The exit queue for validators is projected to take a year to clear, further complicating its usability.
A similar issue was observed on Ethereum’s second-largest testnet, Sepolia. However, developers were able to address the problem with a hotfix, demonstrating the critical role of test environments in identifying and resolving network vulnerabilities before mainnet deployment.
Introducing Hoodi: Ethereum’s New Testnet
To ensure smooth testing of Pectra, Ethereum developers are now turning to a fresh test environment called Hoodi. EF DevOps engineer Paritosh Jayanthi and EF core coordinator Tim Beiko confirmed that Hoodi would be the new testing ground for the Pectra upgrade. The team has scheduled the first round of tests on Hoodi for March 26, marking the final dress rehearsal before the upgrade reaches Ethereum’s mainnet.
If testing on Hoodi proceeds as planned, the Ethereum Foundation aims to deploy Pectra on the main chain by April 25. This upgrade is expected to bring improvements to Ethereum’s scalability and overall efficiency, reinforcing the network’s long-term growth and stability.
What This Means for Ethereum Users
For developers and stakeholders, the introduction of Hoodi signals Ethereum’s commitment to rigorous testing before deploying major updates. The transition from Holesky to Hoodi underscores the network’s resilience and ability to adapt to unforeseen technical challenges.
With Pectra set for mainnet deployment next month, Ethereum users can anticipate improved performance and functionality, reinforcing its position as a leading blockchain network. As testing progresses, all eyes will be on Hoodi to ensure that Pectra is ready for a seamless launch.
