Ethereum Hoodi Testnet to Prepare for Major Pectra Upgrade

Ethereum Hoodi Testnet- Marks a New Milestone for Pectra Upgrade

Ethereum Hoodi Testnet– Ethereum core developers have announced the creation of a third testnet, Hoodi, to better prepare for the delayed Pectra upgrade. This decision comes after two previous testnets, Holesky and Sepolia, encountered several bugs. Originally slated for late 2024, the Pectra upgrade has now been delayed until at least late April.

The Hoodi testnet is set to launch on March 17, with the Pectra upgrade scheduled for activation on March 26, according to Tim Beiko, Ethereum Foundation developer, following the Ethereum All Core Dev Call on March 13. If Pectra runs smoothly on Hoodi, developers could set a mainnet launch date as soon as April 25, just 30 days after the testnet’s activation.

The Pectra upgrade will include significant scaling proposals, notably the doubling of blob counts for data availability—from three to six. This move aims to improve Ethereum’s overall performance and scalability.

Challenges and Previous Testnet Issues

Pectra was previously deployed on the Sepolia testnet on March 5, but Ethereum developers encountered issues with geth nodes and empty blocks being mined shortly after. The bugs led to delays in the expected timeline for the upgrade.

The new Hoodi testnet will aim to mimic the Ethereum mainnet as closely as possible. According to Christine Kim, vice president of research at Galaxy Digital, Hoodi will launch a validator set similar to the mainnet’s current operation. The testnet will distribute at least 20 million test staked-Ether (ETH) across 11 client teams and five staking operators.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrencies and stocks, particularly in micro-cap companies, are subject to significant volatility and risk. Please conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.