What Is Holesky and How to Get Holesky ETH From Faucets

How to Claim Holesky Testnet ETH (HolETH) From Faucets

Holesky ETH tokens are needed to interact with the Holesky network. You can currently claim Holesky tokens from the Holešky PoW Faucet and the Quicknode Faucet. We recommend the Holešky PoW Faucet, as you can claim a maximum of 33 HolETH, while Quicknode is limited to 5 HolETH. 

Key Takeaways

• The Holesky testnet is replacing the Goerli testnet for the Ethereum network. The new testnet will serve as a test environment for staking features, infrastructures, and protocols. The Sepolia testnet will remain the recommended testnet for EVM-related applications.

• With Holesky, Ethereum developers claim to be working towards delivering an enhanced testing environment and improved tokenomics to enable developers to run testing with more ease and accuracy.

• Holesky was successfully launched on 28 September 2023. 

The Holesky testnet will be replacing the Goerli testnet. It is planned to be the new testing environment for protocol developments, infrastructures, and developments related to consensus staking. Alongside Sepolia, Holesky will become the primary testing environment for developers on Ethereum.

The Holesky testnet was scheduled for launch on September 15, 2023, however, due to a couple of ‘mismatch errors’ as reported in this post by an Ethereum developer, the testnet launch was delayed 

In this article, we’ll take a look at how to add the Holesky testnet to MetaMask, faucets to claim Holesky testnet ETH, and we’ll finish off with a comparison of Holesky and the existing Sepolia testnet. 

Let’s get started!

Add the Holesky Testnet to MetaMask

First, you’ll need to add the Holesky testnet to your MetaMask wallet in order to connect to the network.

Add the Holesky Testnet Manually

1. From your MetaMask wallet dashboard, click the network icon from the top left corner of your wallet. Click Add Network.

2. A list of pre-set networks is shown; as Holesky is not in that list, click on Add a Network Manually.

3. On the form, enter the network details accordingly

• Network name: Holesky Testnet

• Network URL: https://ethereum-holesky.publicnode.com

• Chain ID: 17000 

• Currency symbol: ETH 

• Block explorer URL: https://holesky.beaconcha.in

In the event you encounter any errors adding the above to MetaMask, cross-check the Network URL with Chainlist based on the below steps.

4. Click Save to complete.

You can also add the network via Chainlist.

Add Holesky Testnet to Metamask Through Chainlist

1. Visit the Chainlist platform and connect your wallet.

2. Enter Holesky in the search bar at the top of the page. The Holesky testnet Chain ID is 17000. Click Add to MetaMask on the search result with the correct ID.

3. Follow the prompts in your wallet to add the network to your wallet.

You can now switch to the Holesky testnet on MetaMask.

Add Holesky Testnet to MetaMask Through Holesky Homepage

1. Visit the Holesky homepage at https://holesky.ethpandaops.io/

2. Click Add network to MetaMask.

3. Follow the prompts in your wallet to add the network to MetaMask.

Now you have the network integrated into your wallet, let's claim some testnet tokens.

Claim Holesky Testnet ETH With Faucets

There are a few faucet options available to start claiming Holesky testnet ETH to interact with the blockchain.

Claim Holesky Testnet ETH With the Holešky PoW Faucet

1. Visit the Holešky PoW Faucet at https://holesky-faucet.pk910.de/.

2. Enter your ETH address or ENS name, complete the CAPTCHA, and click Start Mining.

3. Start mining Holesky ETH – note that there is a minimum claim of 0.5 Holsky ETH.

4. When you’re ready to claim your Holsky Testnet ETH, click Stop Mining & Claim Rewards.

5. In the next window, you can review the amount of Holsky ETH mined, and receive your testnet ETH by clicking Claim Rewards.

6. You will receive the Holsky Testnet ETH in your wallet. Switch your network to Holesky to view your testnet ETH. 

Claim Holesky Testnet ETH on the QuickNode Holesky Faucet

1. Visit the QuickNode Holesky Faucet.

2. To fill in your wallet address automatically, click Connect Wallet to connect your wallet to the platform. Alternatively, you can also copy and paste your wallet address. Click Continue to proceed

3. You can share a post about your claim to receive 4 HolETH or click No thanks, just send me 1 ETH to proceed.

4. Wait for the transaction to complete and Holesky ETH will be sent to your wallet.

What Is the Holesky Testnet?

The Holesky testnet is the successor of the Goerli testnet which is being sunset. Holesky takes over Goerli and comes with a number of enhancements, all focused on creating a better testing environment for developers on the network. Like Goerli, Holesky is a cost-free environment for testing protocols meant to be deployed on the main network. 

Tokens on the network are only used for testing; they are distributed for free through faucets like the ones mentioned above and are not meant to be sold. The idea is to give developers and users freedom in terms of resources so as to ensure that testing procedures are as thorough as possible. The Holesky testnet will serve as a staking, infrastructure, and protocol-developer testnet.

Like other testnets, the Holesky testnet mirrors the Ethereum network. It runs the proof of stake consensus algorithm. Core differences between the Ethereum network, Goerli testnet, and Holesky testnet are the validator count and tokenomics. Holesky has over 1.4 million validators. This is a significant increase, relative to about 700,000 and 500,000 validators on the Ethereum network and the Goerli testnet respectively.

Holesky testnet’s high validator count is in line with the goal of creating an environment to properly test an application to detect and fix possible scaling issues that could emerge from deploying to a main network with a higher validator count than the test network. To achieve this high count, running a validator node on the Holesky testnet will be open to the public. The current validator count for the network at launch is at about 1.46 million, which is higher than the sum of validators on the mainnet and Goerli testnet.

About 1.6 billion Holesky ETH (HolETH) will also be available on the network. The high testnet token supply is also a fix for the supply friction witnessed on the Goerli testnet. The supply friction that led to the trading of Goerli testnet ETH created a significant headache for developers and users who wish to participate in testing programs. The high supply of Holesky ETH is meant to keep the participation barrier for testing programs as low as possible and ensure that every protocol is tested properly before being deployed on the mainnet.

Utility of Holesky Testnet ETH

Holesky ETH can be used to test protocols deployed on the network, and also offers newer users a way to familiarize themselves with blockchain operations.

Test Protocols

At time of writing, the Holesky testnet is specific for specialized purposes. The network is unlikely to receive significant deployment of dApps that are meant to interact with the EVM. However, this is not certain at the time of writing. With that in mind, the best use case for your test tokens is likely to be for protocol testing programs.

As a developer deploying a new protocol to the Ethereum network, the Holesky testnet offers a facility to test the protocol’s functionalities without risk. You can leverage the new environment and Holesky ETH to thoroughly test your protocols before deploying to the main network. As a regular network user, you can also contribute to the testing program using your Holesky ETH.

Use the Blockchain

 While the primary use cases for the Holesky testnet are for testing protocols, you can also leverage the network and the testnet tokens to experiment with basic and advanced blockchain operations, especially if you’re new to crypto. Feel free to claim some free tokens and test as many procedures as possible before performing similar operations on the main network.

Holesky Testnet vs. Sepolia Testnet

With the launch of Holesky, it will become one of the main testing environments for Ethereum along with the Sepolia testnet. Sepolia has previously served as one of the three test environments for the Shanghai upgrade. Both testnets mirror the Ethereum network with the Sepolia testnet switching to POS alongside the main network. Holesky will run the POS algorithm from the onset. A few differences exist between the two testnets, some of them including;

Final Thoughts

The decision to introduce a new testnet for the Ethereum network every two years is quite an exciting one. While these changes might not appeal to some users and developers, it is a chance for the Ethereum team to introduce new testing environments, built from scratch. Building from scratch instead of upgrading older testnets makes it easier for developers to reflect new technologies and fixes for older testnets. An instance is the tokenomics issue on Goerli which the Holesky testnet fixes with the new supply scheme. The validator count will also be a positive development for developers on the network. 

In this article, we have shared a guide on how to get started with the new network, from adding Holesky to your MetaMask to claiming Holesky testnet tokens from faucets. Finally, note that this article is only for educational purposes and not financial advice. 

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Joel Agbo

Joel is deeply interested in the technologies behind cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. In his over 7 years of involvement in the space, he helps startups build a stronger internet presence through written content. Follow the author on Twitter @agboifesinachi