George Town, Grand Cayman, March 5th, 2025, Chainwire
Zircuit is rolling out Garfield, its latest testnet, launching the week of February 24, 2025. This upgrade introduces full support for all Cancun opcodes, prepares for the Pectra upgrade, and delivers a high-performance prover capable of proving all blocks more efficiently.
Garfield Testnet: Advancing Ethereum Scaling
The Garfield testnet serves as a crucial testing ground for Pectra-related updates, set for Zircuit mainnet integration in March 2025. Key improvements include:
- Full Cancun Opcode Support – Developers can leverage the latest Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) enhancements for building and testing applications.
- Pectra Compatibility – Garfield is structured to designed to accommodate Pectra upon its activation on Ethereum seamlessly
- Enhanced Prover – A new, more powerful prover capable of validating all blocks, enhancing speed and scalability.
- Testing of the Proving Cluster – Garfield enables rigorous optimization and evaluation of Zircuit’s proving infrastructure.
- EIP-7702 Readiness – The testnet is equipped for EIP-7702, with a targeted update planned in the coming days.
New Network, Fresh Setup Required
Garfield is a brand-new network with no prior testnet history. Developers must update their configurations, including a new chain ID and RPC endpoint. The testnet features a dedicated bridge front end and block explorer:
All relevant details will be published in the official documentation before launch.
Transition Plan: Sunsetting of Current Testnet
The existing Zircuit testnet will sunset on May 31, 2025. Users must withdraw any Sepolia ETH or testnet assets before the transition. An escape hatch will be activated before sunset, allowing withdrawals after May 31, 2025.
Garfield Update Coming to Zircuit Mainnet
Zircuit will implement Garfield updates on the mainnet in March 2025, ahead of Pectra’s Ethereum mainnet activation. This transition will occur seamlessly, with no anticipated downtime or user action required.
For real-time updates, users can follow @ZircuitL2 on X or join their Discord.
Mainnet Enhancements: Faster RPC, Upgraded Explorer, and Improved Bridge
Alongside Garfield, Zircuit is introducing significant improvements:
- New RPC Endpoints – A high-speed, low-latency RPC service enhancing stability. While current endpoints remain active, users are encouraged to migrate.
- Block Explorer Enhancements – Sourcify integration enables easier smart contract verification, boosting transparency.
- Revamped Bridge – The withdrawal process is streamlined, with further optimizations planned.
- Escape Hatch Deployment – An escape hatch feature will be connected to Testnet 1.0 before its sunset, ensuring decentralized permissionless withdrawals from Zircuit forever in case the sequencer is not available. Mainnet will be equipped with this functionality right after testing.
Looking Ahead
Zircuit remains committed to continuous innovation and seamless user experience. With the Garfield testnet, developers gain access to cutting-edge Ethereum upgrades, while users benefit from a faster, more robust mainnet infrastructure. More details, including EIP-7702 support and prover optimizations, will be shared soon.
About Zircuit
Zircuit: Where innovation meets security, designed for everyone. Zircuit offers developers powerful features while giving users peace of mind. Designed by a team of web3 security veterans and PhDs, Zircuit combines high performance with unmatched security. Experience the safest chain for DeFi and staking. To learn more about Zircuit, users can visit zircuit.com, and follow their Twitter/X @ZircuitL2
Contact
Head of Communications
Jennifer Zheng
jen@zircuit.com
