Ethereum Launches New Test Network: Hoodi

Ethereum developers launched a new test network, Hoodi, on Monday to facilitate the upcoming Pectra upgrade.

Pectra is set to go live on Hoodi on March 26, and if successful, the upgrade will proceed to Ethereum’s mainnet about 30 days later, according to core developers.

Hoodi was created after previous tests on Ethereum’s other testnets, Holesky and Sepolia, encountered issues that prevented proper finalization due to configuration problems.

Test networks like Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi aim to mimic the main Ethereum network, providing developers a chance to test code changes or significant upgrades like Pectra in a controlled environment before mainnet deployment.

Originally, the Pectra upgrade was meant to be activated following tests on the earlier networks. Due to their challenges, developers opted to build Hoodi to test the ambitious Pectra upgrade again, although this testnet will also be used for future tests.

Hoodi is designed to replicate Ethereum’s mainnet, complete with the same number of validators. Ethereum core developer Parithosh Jayanthi noted that Hoodi serves as the testnet for Ethereum staking pools and node operators to assess their infrastructure.

Holesky and Sepolia serve different purposes: Holesky has a larger validator set than Ethereum’s mainnet to test scalability issues, while Sepolia is a closed network for developers focusing on application testing.

The Pectra upgrade includes enhancements aimed at improving user experience and efficiency for developers and users alike. A notable feature is the addition of smart contract capabilities that may enable wallets to pay gas fees in various cryptocurrencies, not just in ether (ETH).

Read more: Ethereum Developers Launch New Testnet for Pectra Upgrade After Earlier Setbacks