The Ethereum blockchain is currently facing delays with its upcoming Pectra upgrade, prompting core developers to implement a third testnet named Hoodi. This decision comes in light of multiple issues encountered during the initial two testnets, necessitating a more thorough approach to ensure a successful rollout.
Tim Beiko, a developer at the Ethereum Foundation, announced that the Hoodi testnet will officially launch on March 17, with the Pectra upgrade expected to be activated for evaluation on March 26. If the implementation proceeds smoothly, a mainnet launch for Pectra could potentially occur as early as April 25, 30 days after Hoodi’s activation.
Pectra is a significant upgrade that integrates critical features from both the Prague and Electra proposals. It aims to enhance functionality for Ethereum wallets and improve the overall user experience through the introduction of over 10 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). Furthermore, one notable scaling proposal seeks to double the blob count for data availability, climbing from three to six.
Originally slated for late 2024, the Pectra launch has faced several setbacks attributed to client readiness issues and synchronization bugs in the earlier testnets, known as Holesky and Sepolia. Following the rollout of Pectra on Sepolia on March 5, developers encountered various error messages and challenges, prompting the need for an improved testing environment.
Galaxy Digital’s vice president of research, Christine Kim, emphasized that the Hoodi testnet will strive to closely mimic the Ethereum mainnet. This approach will involve launching a validator set that reflects current mainnet operations, with at least 20 million test staked-Ether distributed among various client teams and staking operators.
While Hoodi is established as the third testnet, Beiko has noted that components of the Pectra upgrade may still undergo testing on the existing Sepolia and Holesky testnets. This iterative testing phase is crucial for ensuring that the Pectra upgrade meets the high standards expected by the Ethereum community.
This recent development underscores the Ethereum core developers’ commitment to a more expedited upgrading process. In a recent Core Devs meeting held on February 13, they discussed plans to increase the frequency of protocol upgrades, reflecting an industry-wide call to enhance the competitiveness of Ethereum as a leading layer 1 blockchain.
In conclusion, the introduction of the Hoodi testnet marks a vital step in refining the Pectra upgrade. The Ethereum community remains hopeful for a successful activation that will bring enhanced functionality and user experience to the network.
