Ethereum to Retire Holesky Testnet as Network Activity Surges
Ethereum developers have confirmed plans to wind down the Holesky testnet, closing a two-year chapter that played a critical role in testing staking and validator operations. The move comes as network activity climbs to levels not seen since 2021, underscoring renewed momentum for ETH.
Holesky Testnet Nears Its End
Launched in 2023, Holesky was designed as Ethereum’s largest test environment, helping developers stress-test upgrades such as Dencun and Pectra. But with its purpose largely fulfilled, and technical issues mounting, the network will be officially decommissioned after the upcoming Fusaka upgrade, expected to finalize in November 2025.
Once support ends, Holesky will no longer be maintained by clients, infrastructure providers, or testing teams. Reports earlier this year highlighted validator outages and long exit queues that made the testnet less practical for ongoing development.
To ensure continuity, Ethereum introduced Hoodi in March 2025. This new testnet resolves the issues Holesky faced, comes with a refreshed validator set, and is fully equipped for future upgrades, including Fusaka. Meanwhile, Sepolia will remain the primary playground for developers working on decentralized applications and smart contracts.
Ethereum Active Addresses Hit Three-Year High
While Holesky’s sunset marks a shift in Ethereum’s development roadmap, activity on the main network is showing impressive growth. Data from August revealed that 19.45 million active addresses interacted with Ethereum, the highest monthly figure since May 2021, when activity peaked at 20.27 million.
This surge reflects not only user activity in DeFi and NFTs but also a growing appetite for staking and institutional participation. Tom Lee’s BitMine disclosed that it now holds 1.71 million ETH, a 12% increase compared to earlier this year. At the same time, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF reported $314 million in inflows on August 25, with daily volumes exceeding $2.4 billion.
“It’s not just a sign of renewed user interest, but also evidence of an expanding ecosystem,”
said Everstake, pointing to the steady rise in projects and developers building on Ethereum.
Institutional Momentum Grows
Beyond user adoption, derivatives markets are also heating up. Open interest in CME Ethereum futures climbed to a record $10 billion, while the number of large open interest holders reached 101 in August, another all-time high.
These trends underline a growing recognition of Ethereum’s role as the backbone of Web3, with both individual users and institutional players showing confidence in its long-term potential.
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