Ethereum developers gathered on February 27, 2025, for the All Core Developers Execution (ACDE) Call #206, led by Tim Beiko of the Ethereum Foundation. The focus of the meeting was on addressing the issues faced by the Holesky testnet after the activation of Pectra, as well as discussing the upcoming Sepolia testnet upgrade.
Challenges with the Holesky Testnet
Following the activation of Pectra on February 24, the Holesky testnet encountered difficulties due to misconfigured client software in Geth, Nethermind, and Besu. This resulted in a chain split, making it challenging to stabilize the network. Only a minority of validators were able to operate correctly, leading to a detailed discussion on recovery strategies.
Tim Beiko highlighted the root cause of the failure, which was the use of incorrect validator deposit addresses that differed from those on the mainnet. Developers are now working together to recover the Holesky testnet, including a proposed mass slashing event to finalize the correct version of the network. However, there are concerns about potential coordination challenges among clients and validators regarding this plan.
Sepolia Upgrade Plans
The developers also addressed the upcoming Sepolia testnet upgrade, which is scheduled for March 5. This upgrade requires updated client software from Geth, Nethermind, and Besu, as well as a mandatory update for the Lodestar CL client. Tim Beiko confirmed that the activation date would remain unchanged and emphasized the importance of timely updates by node operators.
Long-Term Initiatives
In addition to the immediate recovery efforts, developers discussed long-term initiatives to prevent similar incidents in the future. Suggestions included standardizing fork configuration formats and enhancing checkpoint sync capabilities across clients. These initiatives aim to improve network resilience and prepare for future Ethereum upgrades, such as Fusaka.
The ACDE call also emphasized the significance of the Holesky testnet as a testing environment. If the current recovery plans prove insufficient, developers are considering the creation of a new testnet. While there are some doubts about the feasibility of the existing recovery plans, the discussion provided valuable insights into Ethereum’s network management and future protocol adjustments.
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