Ethereum Deprecates Holešky Testnet After Validator Exodus; Hoodi Launched as Replacement

The Ethereum Foundation has confirmed that the Holešky testnet will be deprecated following the completion of the Fusaka upgrade, with the majority of remaining validator nodes scheduled for shutdown and client, testing and infrastructure teams withdrawing support.

Launched in 2023 as Ethereum’s largest public environment for large-scale staking infrastructure and validator operation trials, Holešky supported thousands of validators and served as a platform for protocol upgrade rehearsals, including Dencun and Pectra, enabling robust pre-mainnet validation.

Following a Pectra-linked non-triviality leak that triggered a wave of validator exits and extended lifecycle testing timelines, teams launched the Hoodi testnet in March 2025 to provide a more practical environment for comprehensive validator lifecycle testing and migration planning.