The retirement of the Goerli testnet marks a significant shift for Ethereum developers. After five years of reliable service, Goerli supported countless blockchain projects, offering a robust environment for testing and interaction. Its phase-out introduces two new primary testnets: Sepolia and Holesky. These networks provide modernized testing environments and new methods for acquiring testnet ETH, essential for development and protocol experiments.
This guide explores the key differences between Sepolia and Holesky and details practical ways to obtain testnet ETH for each.
Sepolia vs. Holesky: Core Differences
What Is the Sepolia Testnet?
Launched in October 2021, Sepolia initially used a Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism but has since transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (PoS). It is designed as a dedicated playground for developers to test smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) in a precise, controlled setting.
Key features of Sepolia include:
- Fast synchronization times.
- A permissioned set of validators, ensuring network efficiency.
- An unlimited supply of testnet ETH (sepETH), eliminating the scarcity issues faced on Goerli.
This makes Sepolia the ideal choice for developers focused on application-layer development.
What Is the Holesky Testnet?
Introduced in September 2023, Holesky directly replaces Goerli. Its primary purpose is to test Ethereum's consensus layer, including validator operations and staking protocols. It is the network for developers and communities to test protocol upgrades before they are deployed on mainnet.
Key features of Holesky include:
- A massive supply of approximately 1.6 billion holETH (Holesky ETH), designed to prevent testnet token shortages.
- A robust network with over 1.5 million active validators—more than Ethereum mainnet and Goerli combined.
- An environment built to stress-test and identify potential scalability issues.
In summary, while Sepolia is optimized for dApp and smart contract testing, Holesky is engineered for infrastructure-level validation and staking tests.
How to Acquire Sepolia and Holesky Testnet ETH
Acquiring testnet ETH is a fundamental step for any development work. Below are the most common and effective methods.
Using Node Provider Faucets
Many blockchain infrastructure companies operate faucets to support the developer community. These often require account registration.
- Alchemy Faucet: Provides 0.5 sepETH per day. Requires account registration and a mainnet Ethereum wallet with at least 0.001 ETH.
- QuickNode Faucet: Provides 0.05 sepETH every 12 hours, with an option to earn an additional 0.05 by sharing a tweet. Requires connecting a wallet that holds a small mainnet ETH balance.
- RockX Faucet: Offers a base of 0.05 sepETH every 24 hours. Bonus amounts can be earned through Twitter shares, joining their Discord, or using their RPC node.
- Tatum Faucet: Distributes 0.002 ETH daily for both Sepolia and Holesky. Requires account registration.
- BwareLabs Faucet: Allows users to claim 0.025 ETH for Sepolia or Holesky every 24 hours, with a bonus for tweeting. This faucet has a daily cap, so claiming early is advised.
Utilizing Community Faucets
Community-run faucets typically offer a more straightforward process with fewer requirements, though they may distribute smaller amounts.
- Automata Faucet: This faucet, run by the Automata network, provides 0.1 sepETH and 0.1 holETH per address per day with no prerequisites.
- Testnet Help: A longstanding公益 (public good) faucet operational since 2018. It offers 0.001 sepETH daily per address simply by submitting your wallet address.
- pk910 PoW Faucet: This innovative faucet uses a Proof-of-Work (PoW) mining mechanism. Users can "mine" for sepETH or holETH (minimum 0.1 ETH) without registration. It also offers testnet ETH based on GitHub activity.
Purchasing Testnet ETH
When free faucets do not provide enough ETH for extensive testing—such as deploying complex smart contracts—purchasing can be a efficient solution. Dedicated platforms offer a convenient way to acquire larger quantities of Sepolia ETH, Holesky ETH, and other testnet tokens. This is often the fastest method for developers who need to scale their testing operations quickly. 👉 Explore convenient testnet token options
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of the Holesky testnet?
Holesky is specifically designed for testing Ethereum's consensus layer. Its primary purposes are to allow validator operators to test their setups in a realistic environment and for core developers to trial protocol upgrades before they go live on the mainnet. Its large size helps uncover scalability issues.
Can I use the same wallet for both Sepolia and Holesky?
Yes, you can use the same wallet address (e.g., from MetaMask) for both testnets. However, you must add each testnet's custom RPC settings to your wallet separately to see your balances and interact with each network.
Why are there so many requirements on some faucets?
Faucets run by node providers use requirements like social tasks or small mainnet balances to prevent abuse and bot activity. This ensures that testnet ETH is distributed to real developers and not hoarded by a few entities.
Is testnet ETH worth any real money?
No, testnet ETH has no monetary value. It is solely for testing purposes on development networks that are separate from the valuable Ethereum mainnet.
What happens if a testnet is reset or deprecated?
Testnets are occasionally reset or sunsetted (like Goerli). During a reset, all chain state, including transaction history and token balances, is wiped clean. It is crucial not to do any valuable development on a testnet that is scheduled for deprecation.
How do I add the Holesky testnet to MetaMask?
You must manually add the network configuration. The typical Holesky RPC details include:
- Network Name: Holesky
- RPC URL:
https://ethereum-holesky.publicnode.com - Chain ID: 17000
- Currency Symbol: ETH
- Block Explorer URL:
https://holesky.etherscan.io
Always verify the latest RPC information from an official source before adding a new network.