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- Ethereum’s Holešky testnet will soon be retired after serving as the largest public staking network.
- Hoodi testnet now replaces Holešky, offering better conditions for validator and infrastructure testing.
- Sepolia remains the main choice for developers focused on applications and smart contracts.
According to the latest report, Ethereum’s Holešky testnet has reached its planned end-of-life. The shutdown comes two weeks after the finalization of the Fusaka upgrade. Once that step is complete, most validator nodes will be turned off. Support from client, testing, and infrastructure teams will also end.
Holešky was introduced in 2023 and was subsequently the largest public testnet on Ethereum. It gave staking operators and developers a chance to test validator operations on a large scale. It could accommodate large upgrades like Pectra and Dencun later. By simulating a realistic environment, it made it possible for thousands of validators to prepare ahead of time for future protocol changes.
However, after Pectra was activated in early 2025, Holešky began to show weaknesses. Leaks due to inactivity left queues long for validators at exits. Although the network normalized eventually, it was too difficult to perform full validator lifecycle testing due to these setbacks. These complications made Holešky less efficient in use.
Hoodi Replaces Holešky for Validator and Staking Tests
To tackle these challenges, the people who built Ethereum launched the Hoodi testnet in March 2025. Hoodi was launched without any validator set and avoided the difficulties seen in Holešky. It has full support for Pectra and will later run other protocol updates, like the Fusaka fork.
Staking operators and infra providers can now switch to Hoodi. It has a rock-solid environment designed for mass-validator testing without bottlenecks that plagued Holešky. Application developers continue to use Sepolia.
That network remains the go-to testing ground for decentralized applications and smart contract. Yet another lightweight testnet, Ephemery, still operates too. It reloads every 28 days but is a fast way for lifecycles of validation to be tested within a shorter cycle.
Ethereum Testnets Enter New Phase After Holešky Exit
With Holešky’s departure, Ethereum’s testnet landscape begins a new journey. It has a distinct role to play for every network. Application and tooling development takes place on Sepolia. Hoodi is responsible for testing validator and staking providers. Ephemery is utilized for validator testing on a short cycle.
They fill gaps to create a harmonious equilibrium between developer and infra operator requirements. Holešky may be wrapping up but chipping in to a development role in Ethereum will still be on point. It tested long runs in validators and helped validate critical upgrades.
Experience in Holešku went a long way to inform development in Hoodi and made testing in general more streamlined. Holešku’s sunset closes and opens a new page. Testing networks on Ethereum is now better placed to serve out their intended use cases. That system will be better placed to accommodate later upgrades in a better streamlined manner.
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