The Ethereum team has recently confirmed plans to shut down the Mekong testnet on March 7, 2025. This testnet was launched to support wallet developers and stakers in testing the Pectra upgrade before its official deployment on the mainnet.
The shutdown of the Mekong testnet comes as the Pectra update has already been successfully activated on the Sepolia and Holesky testnets. As a result, Ethereum recommends that developers and the community transition to alternative testnets for continued feature testing:
- Application developers: Advised to use the Sepolia testnet, which is ready for testing Pectra-related functionalities.
- Stakers: Can either wait for the Holesky testnet to be fully operational or use the Ephemery testnet to experiment with validator lifecycle processes.
Ethereum regularly updates and optimizes its testnet infrastructure to ensure a stable testing environment, providing the best support for developers and users within the ecosystem. The shutdown of the Mekong testnet is part of Ethereum’s broader efforts to streamline and enhance its testing infrastructure.