Ethereum ends Holesky testnet, shifts to Hoodi after Fusaka

The Ethereum Foundation announced the shutdown of the Holesky testnet launched in 2023. After Pectra went live in early 2025, Holesky ran into inactivity issues that caused long validator exit queues. The network later stabilized, but the delays made it unsuitable for full validator lifecycle testing. To solve this, the Hoodi testnet was launched in March 2025, providing a fresh environment without these limitations. 

According to the Ethereum Foundation announcement, testnet users are encouraged to migrate as Holesky sunsets. Launched in 2023, the testnet became Ethereum’s largest public testnet, built to test staking infrastructure and validator operations at scale. The network supported thousands of validators and played a key role in testing major protocol upgrades, including Dencun and, most recently, Pectra.

Hoodi launches with a clean validator set and full Pectra support. It will also serve as the platform for future protocol upgrades, including the upcoming Fusaka fork. By using Hoodi, validators and staking providers can test the full lifecycle of their operations without the delays that affected Holesky.

For dApp and tooling developers, Sepolia is now the primary recommended testnet. Sepolia remains the go-to environment for testing smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), providing a stable and reliable platform for development. There’s also Ephemery, a lightweight testnet for validator lifecycle testing, with frequent resets every 28 days to allow rapid experimentation.

This reorganization, according to the announcement, ensures that each testnet serves a clear purpose, making it easier for developers, validators, and infrastructure providers to select the right environment for their needs.