End of Holesky Testnet
The Ethereum Foundation has decided to phase out the Holesky testnet by September 2025 due to ongoing issues that have impacted testing for the upcoming Pectra upgrade. A new testnet, Hoodi, will take over Pectra-related testing as announced in a statement released on March 19.
Holesky Issues
- Holesky faced major issues during the Pectra upgrade test, causing chain splits and network instability.
- Several execution clients used incorrect deposit contract addresses, leading to bugs in the execution layer.
- Validator exits were complicated by inactivity leaks, delaying the testing process.
Transition to Hoodi
The Hoodi testnet will now handle Pectra upgrade testing, with activation scheduled for March 26, 2025. Staking operators and infrastructure providers are urged to migrate their validator tests to this new environment.
Support Changes
Ethereum also announced that the Sepolia testnet will be replaced in March 2026, with support ending by September 2026. Hoodi is set to remain active until September 2028, after which support will be discontinued.
Continued Refinement
These updates reflect Ethereum’s commitment to refining its testing infrastructure for smoother protocol upgrades in the future.
