What to Know
- Ethereum Foundation has announced the launch of the “Hooli” testnet on Monday, March 17.
- Previous attempts on the Sepolia and Holesky testnets faced configuration problems.
- The Pectra upgrade aims to enhance speed, efficiency, and user experience with advanced smart contract features.
Following two problematic tests related to Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade, the core developers decided to establish a new testnet to finalize the code update before deployment. “A new testnet, Hooli, is going live Monday to wrap up Pectra testing,” stated Tim Beiko, who coordinates the core developers at the Ethereum Foundation, in an X post after a developer call on Thursday. The Pectra update will be tested on Hooli on Wednesday, March 26, when the test chain will be upgraded and assessed for performance and stability.
Pectra includes various code enhancements designed to make Ethereum faster, more efficient, and user-friendly for both users and developers. One important improvement allows user wallets to be programmed with new functionality, including the ability to pay transaction fees in other currencies.
If the Hooli test is successful, Beiko mentioned that developers plan to roll out the upgrade approximately 30 days later, pending further testing, with an expected arrival on Ethereum’s main network by late April or early May.
The Hooli testnet comes about due to issues encountered during Pectra tests on Sepolia and Holesky—Ethereum’s primary test networks. Configuration errors in both instances hindered proper testing of the Pectra upgrade. Holesky even experienced multiple weeks of downtime because of these flawed test issues.
Test networks like Holesky, Sepolia, and Hooli function almost exactly like the main Ethereum network but are intended for testing purposes and do not support real transactions. Significant upgrades like Pectra undergo testing on these networks before complete deployment to avoid costly disruptions on the real Ethereum network.
Beiko shared that Sepolia and Holesky—now successfully running Pectra—have distinct testing purposes. “If you need to test validator exits, keep an eye on [Hooli]! Everything else can be tested on Sepolia & Holesky,” he remarked in his Thursday post on X.
Pectra’s technical difficulties arise during a challenging period for Ethereum, as the network faces pressure from falling ETH prices and leadership changes at the Ethereum Foundation, alongside growing skepticism regarding its market dominance amid competition from newer blockchains such as Solana. Industry experts view the successful implementation of Pectra as essential for rekindling confidence in Ethereum’s technological future.
