- The launch of Ethereum’s Holesky testnet failed to go as planned due to a misconfiguration of the genesis files
- Ethereum developers disclosed that they’ll wait for another 14 days before attempting to restart the test network
- Holesky is meant to replace Goerli and be larger than the main Ethereum network
Ethereum developers have revealed that there were issues with the base files of the Holesky testnet that hindered the test network’s smooth launch. The developers said that it will take 14 days to rectify the errors and attempt a fresh launch of the testnet that’s supposed to replace Goerli and be larger than the main Ethereum blockchain. The unsuccessful launch was a surprise since Ethereum developers have over the years managed to conduct testnet launches and network upgrades without hiccups.
Validators’ Efforts Not Enough
Although some validators were able to bring the testnet up to speed by tweaking the files, developers said that the validators’ efforts weren’t enough for a smooth launch hence prompting the postponement.
We had a misconfiguration in the el genesis file and that led to the holesky network improperly launching. Some validators manually fixed the config and were able to start the chain, but not enough for the network to finalize. https://t.co/5fchlRBCP3
— parithosh | 🐼👉👈🐼 (@parithosh_j) September 15, 2023
Holeskey was meant to replace the Goerli testnet and introduce a testnet bigger than the main network. These changes will help developers arrest scaling issues before upgrades hit the main Ethereum blockchain since it can accommodate more validators than the Goerli or Sepolia test networks.
An Uncommon Mistake
Ethereum developers intend to use Holesky to test upgrades touching on Ethereum’s core infrastructure while the Sepolia testnet handles applications. The unsuccessful launch of the Holesky testnet comes five months after a successful Ethereum upgrade dubbed Shapella that introduced the withdrawal option for validators.
Other upgrades that have happened on the Ethereum blockchain include the successful transition from a proof of work (PoW) to a proof of stake (PoS) consensus mechanism and the Berlin upgrade that touched on transactions.
Although Holesky’s launch was unsuccessful, its postponement gives developers enough time to regroup and conduct a smooth launch.
