Ethereum’s Pectra fork moves forward with Mekong testnet launch

Ethereum launched the “short-lived” Mekong testnet to test major upgrades for the upcoming Pectra fork.

The Ethereum ecosystem is taking another step towards a Pectra fork with the launch of the Mekong testnet, an ephemeral environment designed to test major updates ahead of a mainnet upgrade.

In a blog post dated November 7, the Ethereum Foundation explained that the testnet has integrated a number of Ethereum Improvement Recommendations, including user experience adjustments, staking changes, and changes to deposit and exit mechanisms.

“We may see some minor specification changes or smaller EIPs, but the features included here will make it into current public testnets and eventually the Ethereum mainnet.”

Ethereum Foundation

According to the blog announcement, the testnet, which will run for a limited time, is available as a full feature with all the major updates planned to be added to Pectra. However, it is unclear how long the testnet will be live. The foundation says that while minor tweaks will still occur, the fundamental changes will be rolled out to Ethereum’s public testnets and eventually to the mainnet.

Those who want to join the testnet can access the Mekong network through the landing page, where they can connect their wallets, explore block data, and request test funds. Instructions for running a node on the testnet are also available, as participants must run both the Execution and Consensus layer node, just like on Ethereum’s mainnet.

The Foundation also stated that the Mekong testnet will not impact other Ethereum networks such as Holesky or Sepolia, but that information gained from the tests will inform a broader implementation of Pectra. The upgrade is assumed to be released in the first quarter of 2025.