Ethereum launches Hoodi testnet for Pectra upgrade

Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) developers have launched a new testnet called Hoodi to facilitate final testing of the upcoming Pectra upgrade.

This follows challenges on Sepolia and Holesky, which faced issues with non-finality and configuration problems.

Hoodi is designed to closely mimic Ethereum’s mainnet, providing a stable environment for testing validator exits, staking operations, and other protocol-level functions.

It includes a staking launchpad and network monitoring tools, making it particularly useful for validators and node operators.

The Pectra upgrade aims to improve Ethereum’s user experience by introducing features such as account abstraction, allowing users to pay transaction fees in cryptocurrencies other than Ether (ETH), and increasing the validator staking limit.

If Hoodi’s testing phase is successful, Pectra could be deployed on Ethereum’s mainnet as early as late April.

Previous tests on Holesky and Sepolia were disrupted by a nearly two-week period of non-finality, causing network instability and increased resource demands.

However, coordinated efforts by developers and node operators restored stability, demonstrating the Ethereum community’s collaborative approach to problem-solving.

While Hoodi is primarily focused on staking and protocol testing, developers working on decentralised applications (dApps), smart contracts, and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionalities are encouraged to use the Sepolia testnet.

The introduction of Hoodi highlights Ethereum’s commitment to rigorous testing before deploying major upgrades.

“A new testnet, Hoodi, is going live to wrap up Pectra testing,” noted Tim Beiko, Ethereum’s core developer coordinator, underscoring the importance of this final phase before mainnet implementation.

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum (ETH) price was $1,912.42.