Thomas Daniels
Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Nears Mainnet Deployment
Ethereum is set to launch the Hoodi testnet on March 17 as the final phase of testing before the highly anticipated Pectra upgrade goes live. If the testnet performs successfully, Pectra will be deployed on the mainnet more than 30 days after Hoodi forks, according to Ethereum developer Tim Beiko.
Pectra’s rollout is currently scheduled for late April, following previous testnet deployments on Holesky (February 24) and Sepolia (March 5). The Hoodi testnet will primarily focus on testing validator exits, a critical component of the upgrade.
Key Enhancements in Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade
One of the most significant changes in the Pectra upgrade is the introduction of account abstraction (EIP-7702), allowing users to pay transaction fees with stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) instead of ETH. Another major enhancement, EIP-7251, will significantly increase the validator staking limit from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH, improving staking flexibility and network security.
Beyond these core updates, Pectra includes several additional Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs):
- EIP-7691 – Enhances transaction scalability and reduces network congestion.
- EIP-7623 – Strengthens privacy by enabling users to obscure certain transaction details.
- EIP-2537 – Optimizes contract execution to lower gas costs and improve smart contract efficiency.
- EIP-7549 – Enhances interoperability between Ethereum’s Layer 2 networks.
With Hoodi serving as the final testnet, Ethereum developers are positioning Pectra as a game-changing upgrade designed to enhance scalability, security, and user experience.
