The Ethereum mainnet is set for its next major network upgrade, Pectra, scheduled for activation on May 7, 2025. This upgrade introduces a suite of improvements aimed at enhancing account functionality, validator experience, and Layer 2 scalability. Key changes include EIP-7702 for account abstraction, EIP-7251 for validator rewards, and EIP-7691 for increased blob throughput.
What Is the Pectra Upgrade?
Pectra is the latest hard fork following last year’s Dencun upgrade. It focuses on three core areas: improving Ethereum accounts, optimizing validator operations, and supporting Layer 2 scaling solutions. These changes are designed to make Ethereum more user-friendly, efficient, and scalable.
Enhanced Account Functionality with EIP-7702
EIP-7702 is a significant step toward widespread account abstraction. It allows users to enhance their Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) with smart contract capabilities. This hybrid approach combines the simplicity of EOAs with the programmability of contract-based accounts.
Key benefits include:
- Transaction batching: Multiple operations can be executed atomically in a single transaction, eliminating the need for separate "approve" and "swap" transactions.
- Gas sponsorship: Others can pay transaction fees, which is useful for accounts without ETH.
- Alternative authentication: Hardware security modules (HSMs) and passkeys can authorize account operations.
- Spending controls: Users can set limits on token spending for specific applications or daily withdrawals.
- Recovery mechanisms: Additional options to secure assets without migrating to new accounts.
EIP-7702 includes safety features like chain-specific delegations, nonce-binding authorizations, and revocability to prevent permanent lockouts. For best practices, explore advanced account management techniques.
Validator Experience Improvements
Pectra introduces three EIPs to enhance validator operations: EIP-7251, EIP-7002, and EIP-6110.
- EIP-7251: Increases the maximum effective balance per validator from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, enabling reward compounding and reducing operational overhead for large stakers.
- EIP-7002: Allows execution-layer-triggered exits, enabling addresses set as withdrawal credentials to initiate exits without relying on active signing keys.
- EIP-6110: Reduces validator deposit processing delays from ~9 hours to ~13 minutes by eliminating pre-merge legacy requirements.
These changes improve capital efficiency, reduce trust assumptions, and streamline network operations.
Layer 2 Scaling with Blob Throughput
EIP-7691 doubles Ethereum’s blob throughput, increasing the average per-block blob count from 3 to 6 and the maximum from 6 to 9. Blobs, introduced in Dencun, are temporary data storage used by Layer 2s to submit compressed transaction data to Ethereum L1.
Since their launch, blobs have reduced L1 fees for L2s by 10-100x, lowering transaction costs for users. EIP-7623 complements this change by limiting worst-case block sizes to manage bandwidth demands.
To sustain long-term scaling, Ethereum is exploring solutions where nodes store only a subset of blob data and sample the network for verification.
Technical Specifications
Pectra includes the following EIPs:
- EIP-2537: BLS12-381 curve operations
- EIP-2935: Historical block hashes in state
- EIP-6110: On-chain validator deposits
- EIP-7002: Execution-layer-triggered exits
- EIP-7251: Increased max effective balance
- EIP-7549: Committee index outside attestation
- EIP-7623: Increased calldata cost
- EIP-7685: Generalized execution layer requests
- EIP-7691: Blob throughput increase
- EIP-7702: Set EOA account code
- EIP-7840: Blob schedule in EL configuration
Full specifications are available in execution layer v1.17.0rc6 and consensus layer v1.5.0-beta.5. Engine API changes are detailed in the prague.md file.
Activation Details
Pectra will activate at epoch 364032 on May 7, 2025, at 10:05:11 UTC. It has already been activated on testnets like Holesky and Sepolia.
Client Versions
Node operators must update their clients to compatible versions:
Consensus Layer Clients
- Grandine: v1.1.0
- Lighthouse: v7.0.0
- Lodestar: v1.29.0
- Nimbus: v25.4.0
- Prysm: v6.0.0
- Teku: v25.4.1
Execution Layer Clients
- Besu: v25.4.1
- Erigon: v3.0.2
- Geth: v1.15.9
- Nethermind: v1.31.9
- Reth: v1.3.12
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a network upgrade in Ethereum?
Network upgrades require node operators to manually update their software to support new protocol changes. If nodes don’t update, they may fork from the main network. Upgrades are coordinated through community consensus.
Do I need to take action as an ETH holder?
No. If you use a wallet, exchange, or hardware wallet, no action is needed unless your provider specifies otherwise.
What should node operators do?
Non-staking node operators must update both execution and consensus layer clients to the versions listed above.
What should stakers do?
Stakers must update their beacon node and validator client to ensure compatibility with the upgrade.
How does Pectra affect developers?
Developers should review the EIPs in Pectra to understand new features and potential impacts on their applications. The upgrade introduces execution and consensus layer enhancements that may enable new functionalities.
Why is it named "Pectra"?
Execution layer upgrades are named after Devcon cities, and consensus layer upgrades use star names. "Pectra" combines Prague (Devcon IV host city) and Electra (a star in the Taurus constellation).
The Pectra upgrade represents a significant step forward in Ethereum’s evolution, enhancing usability, efficiency, and scalability. For those interested in exploring more strategies for managing digital assets, staying informed about network upgrades is crucial.