"Zircuit Unveils Garfield Testnet: Revolutionizing Ethereum Scaling"

Zircuit, a leading blockchain infrastructure provider, has launched the Garfield testnet, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to enhance Ethereum scaling. The testnet, which went live the week of February 24, 2025, introduces full support for all Cancun opcodes, prepares for the upcoming Pectra upgrade, and delivers a high-performance prover capable of validating all blocks more efficiently.

The Garfield testnet serves as a critical testing ground for Pectra-related updates, set for integration into the Zircuit mainnet in March 2025. Key improvements include full Cancun opcode support, enabling developers to leverage the latest Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) enhancements for building and testing applications. Additionally, Garfield is designed to accommodate Pectra upon its activation on Ethereum, ensuring a seamless transition. The testnet also features an enhanced prover, capable of validating all blocks, enhancing speed and scalability. Furthermore, Garfield enables rigorous optimization and evaluation of Zircuit's proving infrastructure and is equipped for EIP-7702, with a targeted update planned in the coming days.

Garfield is a brand-new network with no prior testnet history, requiring developers to update their configurations, including a new chain ID and RPC endpoint. The testnet features a dedicated bridge front end and block explorer, with all relevant details published in the official documentation before launch.

The existing Zircuit testnet will sunset on May 31, 2025, and 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. Zircuit will implement Garfield updates on the mainnet in March 2025, ahead of Pectra's Ethereum mainnet activation, with no anticipated downtime or user action required.

Alongside Garfield, Zircuit is introducing significant improvements to the mainnet, including new RPC endpoints for enhanced stability, Sourcify integration for easier smart contract verification, a revamped bridge with streamlined withdrawal processes, and the deployment of an escape hatch feature ensuring decentralized permissionless withdrawals from Zircuit forever in case the sequencer is not available.

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