Hoodi: The new test for the Ethereum Pectra upgrade

Ethereum has just launched Hoodi, an innovative experimental network specifically designed to validate the upcoming major protocol upgrade. This move marks a significant turning point after previous tests faced substantial technical hurdles.

Why Ethereum Needed Hoodi After Past Failures

Ethereum’s previous test networks, Holesky and Sepolia, experienced issues during their initial attempts to validate Pectra. Both networks failed to complete the test correctly due to configuration errors that prevented validators from functioning properly. These setbacks convinced lead developers that a different approach was necessary.

Hoodi was built as a direct response to these challenges. The idea emerged during developer coordination calls when it became clear that a third experimental network was needed to ensure Pectra would operate smoothly before its deployment on the mainnet.

Hoodi vs. Other Test Networks: Specific Roles in the Ecosystem

The key aspect that sets Hoodi apart is its validator architecture. Unlike its predecessors, Hoodi was designed to replicate exactly the same number of validators as the Ethereum mainnet. This detail is not trivial: it makes Hoodi the ideal environment for node operators and staking platforms to test their infrastructure under realistic conditions.

Meanwhile, Holesky maintains a significantly larger number of validators, making it the most suitable network for identifying scalability issues. Sepolia, on the other hand, functions as a closed space exclusively for decentralized application developers, with more specialized testing purposes. Each test network plays a specific role within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Pectra Brings Key Changes for Developers and Users

Hoodi will go live on March 26 to run Pectra. Lead developers estimate that if everything proceeds as planned, the upgrade will reach the Ethereum mainnet approximately 30 days later.

Pectra is not a minor update. It includes several fundamental improvements that will transform the experience for both developers and end users. Among the most notable changes is the expansion of smart contract capabilities, especially regarding digital wallets. The most significant innovation allows wallets to pay transaction fees (gas fees) using alternative cryptocurrencies instead of being limited solely to ether (ETH).

This paradigm shift would substantially improve user experience and open new possibilities for mass adoption. Hoodi will serve as the critical testing ground to validate that these changes work safely and efficiently before revolutionizing the Ethereum mainnet.