Ethereum developers have announced that support for the Holesky testnet will officially end in September 2025. This decision comes after significant disruptions during the testing of the Pectra upgrade, which led to a mass exit of validators from the network.
Why is Ethereum Discontinuing Holesky?
Holesky was launched in September 2023 to provide a reliable testing environment for Ethereum developers. However, recent issues during the Pectra upgrade testing caused a surge in validator exits, making the testnet less effective for testing validator-related functions. While Holesky has been restored, removing all exited validators is expected to take up to a year. This delay hinders efficient testing, particularly for validator exit scenarios.
As a result, Ethereum developers are now shifting validator exit testing to a new testnet called Hoodi, which will go live with the Pectra upgrade on March 26, 2025. Developers can still use Holesky until its discontinuation but are advised to avoid using it for validator exit tests due to an excessively long exit queue.
What’s Next for Ethereum Testnets?
Although Holesky will no longer be a primary testnet, it may still be used for specific Ethereum protocol tests, such as analyzing gas limit increases. Its discontinuation follows the sunset of previous testnets like Kiln, Rinkeby, Ropsten, and Goerli, as Ethereum continues to evolve and optimize its development environment.
With Hoodi stepping in as the latest testnet, developers can continue fine-tuning Ethereum upgrades, ensuring a smoother transition for future developments on the blockchain.
