Ethereum's Big Change: Holešky Testnet Set to Retire

Ethereum's largest testnet, Holešky, is set to retire as part of a planned shutdown and transition to a new testnet called Hoodi. This change is necessitated by technical issues encountered earlier this year.

Shutdown Timeline

• Fusaka Upgrade: The shutdown will occur two weeks after the Fusaka upgrade, expected in the second half of September.
• Holešky Support: Holešky will no longer be supported after the Fusaka upgrade.
• Main Network Upgrade: The exact date is unclear but must happen before the Fusaka upgrade on the main network in November.

Holešky's Role

• Launch Date: September 2023
• Purpose: To test staking and validator operations.
• Contributions: Helped thousands of validators test protocol upgrades, including Dencun and Pectra.

Transition to Hoodi

• Launch Date: March 2024
• Purpose: To address issues like "inactivity leaks" present in Holešky.
• Current Support: Already supports the Pectra update and will handle future upgrades, including Fusaka.
• Recommendation: The Ethereum Foundation suggests using Sepolia for smart contract and dApp testing for now.

Upcoming Upgrades

Fusaka (Early November)

• Goals:
• Easier node operation
• Improved decentralization
• Enhanced layer-2 scalability
• Includes: 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs)

Glamsterdam (2026)

• Goals:
• Halve block times to 6 seconds
• Separate block validation from execution
• Provide more time for zero-knowledge proofs

Market Impact

Ethereum's recent developments are influencing the market, with several companies adding Ether to their treasuries.