Ethereum developers have announced plans to discontinue support for the Holesky testnet in September 2025, following a mass exit of validators and disruptions experienced during the Pectra upgrade testing. The decision marks the end of Holesky’s role as a key Ethereum testnet after two years of service.
Reason for Discontinuation
According to an announcement on the Ethereum Foundation blog, support for Holesky will officially end by September 30, 2025. Until then, developers can continue using the testnet for testing deposits, consolidations, and other Pectra features. However, Ethereum developers strongly advise against using Holesky to test validator exits due to an extensive exit queue, which slows down the testing process significantly.
Instead, validator exit testing will transition to the newly launched Hoodi testnet, which is set to activate the Pectra upgrade on March 26. The switch comes as Holesky faces long-term complications from a mass validator exit that occurred during earlier Pectra testing. While the testnet remains functional, fully removing exited validators is expected to take about one year, making it unsuitable for certain testing scenarios.
Holesky’s Legacy and Future
Launched in September 2023, Holesky has served as a major Ethereum testnet, allowing developers to experiment with upcoming network upgrades. With its discontinuation, Ethereum continues its pattern of phasing out older testnets. Prior to Holesky, Ethereum developers sunsetted Kiln, Rinkeby, Ropsten, and Goerli testnets as the network evolved.
While Holesky will no longer serve as a general-purpose testnet, there is a possibility that it could be repurposed for specific protocol testing, such as gas limit increases and other infrastructure evaluations.
The Ethereum network continues to refine its testing environments, ensuring that developers have access to efficient, scalable, and functional testnets. With Holesky being sunsetted, the Hoodi testnet will take on an increasingly important role in finalizing the Pectra upgrade and testing validator exits. Ethereum’s iterative approach to testnet development underscores its commitment to maintaining a resilient and adaptable blockchain ecosystem.
