Pectra Goes Live on Sepolia
Ethereum developers have activated the Pectra upgrade on the Sepolia testnet, marking the final phase before the highly anticipated mainnet rollout next month.
The upgrade was successfully deployed at around 2:30 AM ET, following its initial test on the Holesky testnet on Feb. 24. While Holesky encountered delays due to deposit contract issues, Sepolia has largely achieved network finality.
Testing Challenges and Developer Adjustments
Ethereum Foundation developer Tim Beiko noted that a custom deposit contract caused issues with execution-layer clients, leading to some empty blocks on the network. Developers are currently investigating potential fixes ahead of the mainnet launch.
Despite minor setbacks, Ethereum developers remain on track to confirm the final activation date during the upcoming All Core Developers (ACD) call on Thursday. The mainnet fork is expected in early April.
Key Features of the Pectra Upgrade
Pectra introduces several significant upgrades aimed at improving Ethereum’s scalability, security, and usability:
- EIP-7702: Enhances account abstraction, simplifying user experiences in crypto wallets.
- EIP-7251: Raises validator stake limits from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH, increasing staking flexibility.
- EIP-7691: Doubles the maximum blob count, boosting Ethereum’s rollup scalability.
This upgrade builds on the Dencun hard fork from March 2024, which dramatically reduced Layer 2 fees, reinforcing Ethereum’s push for greater efficiency.
