Ethereum’s Holešky Testnet Could Be Retired Ahead Of Fusaka, With Migration To Hoodi Planned

• Holešky sunset: planned migration to Hoodi testnet

• Fusaka upgrade slated for early November 2025; Holešky will be retired two weeks after Fusaka finalization.

• Migration impact: validators must move staking infrastructure; Hoodi already supports Pectra and upcoming upgrades.

Holešky testnet sunset: Holešky will be retired after Fusaka finalization — migrate to Hoodi now. Read steps and dates from COINOTAG.

What is the Holešky testnet sunset?

Holešky testnet is being retired after two years of testing core Ethereum upgrades, with a formal shutdown occurring two weeks after the Fusaka upgrade is finalized. The Ethereum Foundation confirmed the planned end-of-life to consolidate testing on newer testnets such as Hoodi and Sepolia.

How will the shutdown affect validators and staking operators?

Validators on Holešky must migrate staking nodes and infrastructure to Hoodi or Sepolia to continue testing protocol upgrades. The Foundation reported early-2025 inactivity leaks on Holešky that created exit queues, prompting a migration plan initiated in March when Hoodi launched.

Source: Tim Beiko

Why is Hoodi replacing Holešky?

Hoodi was created to provide a fresh, stable environment after Holešky experienced “extensive inactivity leaks” early in 2025. Hoodi already supports the Pectra update and is being prepared to activate Fusaka, making it the primary environment for protocol and staking integration testing.

When is Fusaka scheduled and what does it change?

Fusaka (Fulu-Osaka) is targeted for early November 2025 and consists of 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals designed to improve rollup data availability and make node operation more efficient. The change aims to improve decentralization and reduce layer-2 transaction costs by distributing data availability workloads across validators.

How should operators migrate from Holešky to Hoodi?

The Ethereum Foundation recommends a staged migration: export validator keys and configs, redeploy clients on Hoodi, and verify Pectra/Fusaka compatibility. For contract testing, Sepolia is recommended as the current smart contract testnet.

What timeline should teams follow?

Holešky will be shut down two weeks after Fusaka is finalized; Fusaka is proposed for the second half of September with mainnet targeting November. Operators should complete migration well before Fusaka mainnet activation to avoid service disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Holešky be turned off?

Holešky will be retired two weeks after the Fusaka upgrade is finalized; exact shutdown dates depend on final Fusaka scheduling but must occur ahead of the planned November mainnet window.

Is Hoodi already running protocol upgrades?

Yes. Hoodi launched in March 2025 and already supports the Pectra update. It will host future upgrades including Fusaka and receive migrated staking infrastructure from Holešky.

Key Takeaways

• Planned sunset: Holešky will be retired following Fusaka finalization—migrate now.
• Hoodi replacement: Hoodi provides a cleaner test environment and supports Pectra and upcoming forks.
• Action for operators: Export configs, redeploy validators on Hoodi or use Sepolia for smart contract testing.

Conclusion

Ethereum’s planned Holešky testnet sunset accelerates consolidation onto Hoodi and Sepolia ahead of the Fusaka upgrade. Operators should prioritize migration to maintain test coverage and validator continuity. COINOTAG will continue tracking release dates and migration guidance as Fusaka progresses toward mainnet.