Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade went live on the Sepolia testnet today at 2:30 am ET. The transition was smooth, with a near-perfect proposal rate. This upgrade includes EIP-2935, EIP-7002, and EIP-7251. The mainnet activation is planned for mid-March 2025.
Pectra is one of Ethereum’s largest upgrades, featuring 11 EIPs. Due to its scale, developers split it into two phases. This upgrade moves Ethereum closer to its long-term vision. Each hard fork improves scalability, efficiency, and decentralization.
The upgrade enhances Ethereum’s scalability by increasing blob capacity. Alongside Dencun, this improvement pushes Ethereum toward 100,000 transactions per second. Rollups benefit the most, making transactions faster and cheaper.
Ethereum enhances data efficiency with PeerDAS
Ethereum also gains Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS). This feature optimizes data efficiency and brings the network closer to full decentralization. Stateless clients become more feasible, improving verification processes.
Pectra refines the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), reducing gas costs and enhancing user experience. Developers, users, and protocols benefit from smoother interactions. Combined with Dencun, Ethereum becomes more accessible and efficient.
EIP-7251 and EIP-7002 reshape Ether’s staking system. EIP-7251 allows validators to merge, reducing network congestion and computational load. The new 2048 ETH staking limit simplifies compounding and lowers the number of required nodes. This reduces attestation load while boosting staking rewards.
EIP-7002 streamlines validator exits. Execution layer transactions can now trigger exits on the consensus layer. This automation benefits staking pools and improves liquid staking protocols. Permissionless staking pools have become more practical.
Ether’s roadmap continues evolving. With Pectra and Dencun combined, scalability and staking efficiency see major improvements. The network moves closer to its long-term vision of full decentralization and mass adoption.
