TL;DR
- New Testnet Launch: Ethereum devs have introduced the Hoodi testnet (March 17) to address bugs from earlier tests and finalize the Pectra upgrade.
- Upgrade Features: The Pectra upgrade combines over 10 EIPs from Prague and Electra proposals, enhancing wallet functionality and doubling data blob capacity.
- Mainnet Outlook: A smooth Horni testnet performance could trigger a mainnet Pectra activation as early as April 25, after additional evaluations.
Ethereum devs have announced the launch of a new testnet, named ‘Hoodi,’ to finalize the much-anticipated Pectra upgrade. This move comes after encountering several bugs in the first two testnets, Holesky and Sepolia, which delayed the upgrade initially slated for late 2024.
ACDE Recap
A new testnet, Hoodi, is going live Monday to wrap up Pectra testing, if you need to test validator exits, be on the lookout for it! Everything else can be tested on Sepolia & Holesky.
Pectra will be scheduled 30+ days after Hoodi forks successfully, pending infra… pic.twitter.com/FK05GmtPnk
— timbeiko.eth (@TimBeiko) March 13, 2025
The Purpose of Hoodi
The Hoodi testnet, set to launch on March 17, aims to address the issues faced in previous testnets and ensure a smooth activation of the Pectra upgrade. Ethereum Foundation developer Tim Beiko stated that the Pectra upgrade for Hoodi would be activated on March 26.
If the upgrade runs smoothly on Hoodi without significant issues, core Ethereum devs could set a mainnet launch date for Pectra 30 days after Hoodi’s activation, potentially as early as April 25.
Key Features of Pectra
Pectra combines features from the Prague and Electra proposals, implementing over 10 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at enhancing Ethereum wallets’ functionality and user experience.
The upgrade also includes scaling proposals to double the blob count for data availability from three to six. These improvements are expected to bring more flexibility and efficiency to Ethereum’s staking operations and overall network performance.
Challenges and Delays
The Pectra upgrade has faced repeated delays due to client readiness issues and synchronization bugs in the first two testnets. For instance, the Sepolia testnet, which rolled out Pectra on March 5, encountered error messages on geth nodes and empty blocks being mined.
These issues prompted developers to create the Hoodi testnet to better mimic the Ethereum mainnet and ensure a stable upgrade process.
Community Reactions
The Ethereum community has expressed mixed reactions to the delays in the Pectra upgrade. While some members are frustrated by the postponements, others appreciate the developers’ cautious approach to ensuring network stability.
Despite the setbacks, many community members remain optimistic about Pectra’s potential benefits, including improved staking flexibility and enhanced scalability. The launch of the Hoodi testnet marks a crucial step in finalizing the Pectra upgrade. As Ethereum developers work to resolve the remaining issues, the community eagerly awaits the potential mainnet activation of Pectra.
