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- Ethereum developers will launch the Hooli testnet on March 17 to resolve Pectra upgrade issues.
- A successful test could bring the Pectra upgrade to the mainnet by late April or early May.
- Hooli will focus on validator exit tests, while Sepolia and Holesky handle other cases.
The Ethereum core devs promised that the Hooli testnet would go live by March 17. This new test network would address the setup issues during the upgrade to Pectra on Sepolia and Holesky. There were some issues with validator exits for the devs, which prompted the devs to build an alternative test environment. Hooli will facilitate the upgrade to the version of Pectra on March 26 with the same configurations as the mainnet. Staking operators and infrastructure providers have been requested to deploy on Hooli at the earliest.
The first priority for Hooli is to enable exit testing for validators, which is impossible on Holesky because it takes too long to get out. This step needs to be completed prior to finalizing the deployment of Pectra to the mainnet. If the upgrade goes successfully, it can be planned for late April or early May.
Mainnet Timeline Hinges on Hooli Test Success
The Ethereum development team will only set the date for the mainnet fork after successfully enabling Pectra on Hooli. At least 30 days post the testnet upgrade, the final timeline should be determined by the developers. If further tests are necessary, the deployment would be pushed beyond April.
Parallel testing for the other Pectra features will continue on Sepolia and Holesky. Testing comprises attestation packing, slashing inclusion, and parsing the deposit contract. Testing is carried out to ensure all the upgrade components function perfectly in various environments.
Fusaka Upgrade Plans Take Shape
Along with Pectra, Ethereum’s developers are also preparing for the Fusaka upgrade. There is a March 24 proposal due date with April 10 for finalizing the work. Transaction payload proofs are being considered for inclusion by the development team.
There are several proposals for improvement for Fusaka under review, including EIP-7594, which alters network transaction formats. There are some proposals yet to be debated before final decisions can be made.
The following calls will be focused on refining Fusaka’s scope and making preparations for implementation. Ethereum’s ongoing upgrades speak to the network’s focus on security and efficiency. With Hooli on the horizon, the outcome of the tests will determine the rate at which the blockchain moves with Pectra and beyond.
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