Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade is launching
on the Holesky test network on Feb 24 at 9:55 PM UTC.
This will let developers test new
features before they are added to the main Ethereum network.
The Ethereum Foundation said that
Pectra will go live on:
- Holesky at epoch 115,968
- Sepolia at epoch 222,464 on March 5 at 7:29 AM UTC
After both test networks successfully
upgrade, Ethereum will decide when to bring Pectra to the main network.
What Does Pectra Change?
Pectra improves Ethereum by:
- Enhancing Ethereum accounts
- Supporting Layer-2 scaling (which makes
transactions faster and cheaper)
- Improving validator rewards
This upgrade comes after the Dencun
update, which lowered fees for Layer-2 networks and made Ethereum rollups more
efficient.
Dencun launched on March 13, 2024, and
was a big step toward making Ethereum more widely used.
Key Features of Pectra
- EIP-3074: This allows regular Ethereum accounts to
bundle multiple transactions together and lets someone else pay the gas
fees.
- Gas Sponsorship: Users can make transactions without
needing ETH in their account, and they can also set spending limits and
use better security features.
- Increased Blob Capacity: Ethereum's blob storage
will grow by 50%, from 3 blobs per block to 6 blobs per block. Blobs help
Layer-2 networks store compressed data, making transactions cheaper.
- Higher Validator Rewards: Right now, validators can
deposit up to 32 ETH, but Pectra will raise this limit to 2,048 ETH.
Ethereum’s Faster Roadmap
Ethereum developers have decided to speed
up future upgrades. At a meeting on February 13, developers agreed to release
updates more quickly and with less debate over details.
Pectra Testnet Upgrade Announcement
Posted by Protocol Support Team –
February 14, 2025
https://blog.ethereum.org/2025/02/14/pectra-testnet-announcement
What’s Happening?
The Ethereum network is getting an
upgrade called "Pectra". It will first be tested on two Ethereum test
networks before being added to the main Ethereum network.
- Holesky Testnet: Upgrade happens on February
24, 2025, at 21:55 UTC.
- Sepolia Testnet: Upgrade happens on March
5, 2025, at 07:29 UTC.
Once these tests are successful,
Ethereum will set a date to upgrade the main network.
What’s New in Pectra?
1. Smart Accounts (EIP-7702)
- Regular Ethereum accounts (EOAs) can now work like
smart contracts.
- Benefits include:
- Batch Transactions –
Combine multiple transactions into one (e.g., approving and swapping
tokens at once).
- Gas Sponsorship – Someone else can pay
transaction fees for you.
- Better Security – Use phone security
features to approve transactions.
- Spending Limits – Set rules on how much
an app can spend.
- Account Recovery – More ways to recover
access if you lose your account.
2. Better Validator Experience
Three changes make staking and
validating Ethereum easier:
- EIP-7251: Validators can now earn rewards
on up to 2048 ETH (instead of just 32 ETH).
- EIP-7002: Withdrawals can be triggered
from Ethereum accounts, making fund management more flexible.
- EIP-6110: Speeds up validator deposits,
reducing wait times from 9 hours to just 13 minutes.
3. More Space for L2 Transactions
(EIP-7691)
- Ethereum will increase the number of
"blobs" per block (temporary data storage used by Layer 2
solutions).
- This means cheaper transactions for users on
Layer 2 networks.
When Will the Upgrade Happen?
|
Network
|
Epoch
|
Date & Time (UTC)
|
|
Holesky
|
115968
|
February 24, 2025, 21:55
|
|
Sepolia
|
222464
|
March 5, 2025, 07:29
|
What Should You Do?
If you are:
- An Ethereum User or ETH Holder – You don’t
need to do anything.
- A Node Operator or Validator (on Sepolia or
Holesky) – Update your software to the latest
versions listed in the announcement.
- A Developer – Check the new features and see
if they affect your app.
- A Security Researcher – Stay
tuned for a bug bounty competition.
Why is it Called "Pectra"?
Ethereum upgrades follow a naming
tradition:
- "Pectra" = Prague + Electra
- "Prague" (from Devcon IV) represents the execution
layer upgrade.
- "Electra" (a bright star) represents the consensus
layer upgrade.
