After two problematic tests of the next Pectra d’Ethereum upgrade, the main developers of the network decided Thursday to create a new testnet to demonstrate the code update one last time before deployment.
“A new testnet, Hoodi, is posted online on Monday to finish the pectra tests,” said Tim Beiko, who coordinates the main developers of the ecosystem at the Ethereum Foundation, in a X post After a developer call on Thursday. Pectra will be tested on Hoodi on Wednesday March 26 – when the test chain is upgraded to the new version of Ethereum and evaluated for performance and stability.
Pectra includes several code changes designed to make Ethereum faster, more efficient and more user -friendly for users and developers. One of the most significant improvements adds “intelligent contract” features to addresses, allowing user wallets to be programmed with new features, such as the possibility of paying transaction costs in currencies other than ETH.
If the Hoodi test succeeds, Beiko said that the developers would launch the upgrade after about 30 days, subject to additional tests. If everything takes place as planned, Ethereum users can expect Pectra to reach the main network of the ecosystem at the end of April or early May.
The Hoodi Testnet was created as a result of complications with Pectra tests on Sepolia and Holesky, the main Ethereum test networks. In both cases, the configuration errors prevented the appropriate tests of the Pectra upgrade. In the case of Holesky, the network was offline for several weeks due to the defective test problems.
Test networks like Holesky, Sepolia and Hoodi work almost identical to the main Ethereum network, but are generally free to use and are not intended to take care of the real value. Major upgrades like Pectra are generally implemented on Ethereum test networks before full deployment on the Mainnet, because all disturbances on the Ethereum real network could be extremely expensive.
According to Beiko, Sepolia and Holesky – which are now successful – serve different test objectives. “If you need to test the outings of the validator, be on the lookout for (Hoodi)! Anything else can be tested on Sepolia & Holesky,” said Beiko in his Thursday article on X.
Pectra’s technical setbacks occur for a difficult period for Ethereum. The network was faced with the growing pressure of the drop in prices of ETH, from leadership transitions to the Ethereum Foundation and increasing skepticism about its ability to maintain market domination in the middle of the more recent blockchains like Solana. Industry figures consider that the successful implementation of Pectra is crucial to restore confidence in the Ethereum technical roadmap.
Correction: (Fri 14, 07:04 UTC) Modifies the Testnet name from Hooli to Hoodi.
