Ethereum faces a major setback in the development of its next update, Pectra. Following a series of problems that have paralyzed the Holesky testnet, the developers of Ethereum, decided to launch a “shadow testnet”. Although the breakdown is not directly linked to Pectra, it however put a brake on the tests, potentially pushing its deployment which was initially planned for the beginning of spring.
Ethereum: a “shadow fork” to save Pectra after Holesky fiasco
While the first tests of the Pectra update on the Testnet Sepolia had been conclusive, a new error that occurred just after sowing doubt. This reverse, combined with the persistent breakdown of Holesky which has lasted since February 24, complicates the Ethereum calendar and raises concerns about the stability of the ecosystem before the final deployment.
To avoid a significant delay, the Ethereum Foundation and the developers of the protocol decided to create a “shadow fork” from Holesky. This parallel version of the Testnet will continue research and ensure the stability of the Pectra upgrade.
During a call from Ethereum developers (ACD Call 152), researcher Alex Stokes confirmed that after Holesky's errorthe latter will not be functional before the end of March. In order to continue the tests without delay, Parithosh Jayanthi, a DevOps researcher of the Ethereum Foundation, proposed to quickly launch a clone of the existing testnet.
Impacts on applications and the continuation of events
This strategy is not new: Ethereum had already used a Shadow Fork in 2022 to test the transition to the evidence (POS). However, some are concerned about the complexity and costs of such an operation. The Shadow Fork should count as many validators as Holesky, but uncertainties remain on its compatibility with applications like Lido or Aave.
However, a debate is open to the future of Holesky: should it be kept after its restart or depreciate it for the benefit of the Shadow Fork? Some fear that he will become a “second -class network”. Despite these uncertainties, the consensus is to quickly launch the Shadow Fork and to assess its effectiveness before making final decisions. Especially since Pectra remains a crucial upgrade for Ethereum.
The launch of a “shadow fork” by Ethereum therefore illustrates the resilience of its developers in the face of the unexpected of the Holesky testnet. Although challenges remain, this pragmatic solution could maintain pectra on rails, strengthening Ethereum's adaptability in its quest for efficiency and innovation in the face of the expectations of its community.
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