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In a blog post published on Wednesday, the Ethereum Foundation stated that it has begun the shutdown of the Ropsten test network (testnet), with a complete closure scheduled at some time between December 15 and 31.
Shut Down of Ropsten Testnet
The announcement comes as developer involvement on the testnet has significantly decreased over the previous few months. In order to test the software before releasing it on Ethereum's main network, the platform operates testnets. Test networks serve as virtually exact replicas of the Ethereum mainnet, enabling client groups, network operators, and programmers to test any modifications to their apps before releasing them in a more risk-laden setting.
Rinkeby Testnet Will Also Be Shut Down
Ethereum's Rinkeby testnet will likewise be shut down somewhere in the middle of 2023, allowing developers plenty of time to migrate any active apps to the Goerli or Sepolia testnets. Prior to Ethereum's significant Merge upgrade, which saw the switch from a proof-of-work to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, each of these testnets was critical to design and research. The environments in which Goerli and Sepolia both underwent their own testing of the Merge are the closest comparable to those in which the Ethereum blockchain is now operating. Therefore, it is anticipated that the testnets will continue to run.