Ethereum's Pectra Upgrade Passes Final Testnet, Mainnet Launch Imminent
1min read Ethereum developers have successfully activated the Pectra upgrade on the Hoodi testnet, marking a significant step towards its deployment on the Ethereum mainnet. The activation, which took place on Wednesday, is the final test before the upgrade is scheduled to go live on the mainnet on April 30th. The Hoodi testnet was launched on March 17th as a dedicated testing ground after earlier attempts on the Holesky and Sepolia testnets encountered technical issues. Holesky faced prolonged finality problems, while Sepolia experienced synchronization difficulties.
The Hoodi testnet successfully forked and finalized the Pectra upgrade within just 30 minutes of activation, providing a smoother testing environment compared to its predecessors. This final testnet upgrade is designed to allow staking operators and Ethereum client teams to rigorously test the full lifecycle of changes introduced by Pectra. These changes include major protocol upgrades such as EIP-7702, which enhances wallet functionality through account abstraction; EIP-7251, which increases the maximum validator stake from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH; and EIP-7691, aimed at improving rollup scalability by increasing the maximum blob count.
Ethereum core developers have indicated that if the Hoodi test proceeds without major issues, the Pectra upgrade could be implemented on the mainnet within approximately 30 days—possibly by late April. However, they have also left open the possibility of pushing the deployment to May or June to allow stakeholders additional time for review and preparation. The successful activation of the Pectra upgrade on the Hoodi testnet is a positive development for the Ethereum ecosystem, as it brings the network closer to implementing significant improvements in user experience and scalability. The upgrade is expected to make Ethereum more user-friendly for both end-users and developers, enhancing the overall functionality and efficiency of the network.
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