Ethereum developers have introduced Hoodi, a new test network designed to finalize the upcoming Pectra upgrade. The launch follows unsuccessful trials on Holesky and Sepolia, which encountered configuration issues preventing proper finalization.

Hoodi will go live with Pectra on March 26, and if testing goes smoothly, Ethereum’s mainnet upgrade could follow in roughly 30 days. Unlike previous testnets, Hoodi closely mirrors Ethereum’s mainnet with an identical number of validators, making it ideal for staking pools and node operators to test their infrastructure.

Ethereum core developer Parithosh Jayanthi highlighted Hoodi’s importance in ensuring a smooth transition for the Pectra upgrade. Holesky, with its larger validator set, is mainly used for scalability testing, while Sepolia, a closed network, is reserved for application development.

Pectra introduces several enhancements aimed at improving Ethereum’s efficiency and user experience. Notably, it will allow wallets to pay gas fees using cryptocurrencies other than ether (ETH), a major step toward greater flexibility for users and developers.

The Ethereum community eagerly awaits Hoodi’s results, as the success of this testnet will determine the timeline for Pectra’s highly anticipated mainnet deployment.