Launch of the Hoodi Test Network for Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade
On Monday, Ethereum developers officially unveiled a new test network named Hoodi, which will serve as a critical platform for testing the upcoming Pectra upgrade. This significant upgrade is scheduled to go live on the Hoodi network on March 26. If the testing phase proves successful, the eagerly anticipated upgrade will be rolled out to Ethereum’s mainnet approximately 30 days later, as confirmed by the network’s core developers.
The creation of Hoodi was prompted by the challenges encountered during previous tests on Ethereum’s other test networks, Holesky and Sepolia. Both testnets experienced issues with finalization due to configuration problems, which necessitated the development of Hoodi to ensure that the Pectra upgrade is thoroughly vetted before its mainnet deployment.
Test networks like Holesky, Sepolia, and now Hoodi are designed to replicate the main Ethereum network. This allows developers to experiment with code changes and major upgrades, including Pectra, in a risk-free environment before introducing them to the mainnet. Initially, the Pectra upgrade was slated to activate on Ethereum following the tests on Holesky and Sepolia. However, due to the complications encountered, developers opted to construct Hoodi as a more reliable testing ground for this ambitious upgrade.
Hoodi is meticulously designed to emulate Ethereum’s mainnet, featuring the same number of validators on its network. According to Ethereum core developer Parithosh Jayanthi, during last week’s Ethereum core developers call, Hoodi will serve as an essential testnet for Ethereum staking pools and node operators, providing them with an opportunity to assess their infrastructure under realistic conditions.
In contrast, Holesky and Sepolia serve distinct purposes: Holesky boasts a larger validator set than Ethereum’s mainnet, facilitating the testing of scalability challenges, while Sepolia functions as a closed network exclusive to developers, intended for testing applications.
The Pectra upgrade encompasses a range of enhancements aimed at improving the usability and efficiency of Ethereum for both developers and end-users. One of the most notable changes includes the introduction of smart contract capabilities, which could empower wallets with new functionalities, such as the ability to pay gas fees using cryptocurrencies other than Ether (ETH).
