Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Goes Live, Ushering in Major Enhancements

On May 7, 2025, Ethereum’s highly anticipated Pectra upgrade, the largest since the 2022 Merge, activated on the mainnet at epoch 364032 (10:05 AM UTC). Combining the Prague (execution layer) and Electra (consensus layer) updates, Pectra introduces 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to boost scalability, user experience, and validator efficiency. Key features include doubling blob data capacity from three to six per block, enhancing Layer-2 rollup scalability, and reducing transaction costs. EIP-7702 enables smart wallet functionalities, allowing external accounts to act like smart contracts, improving DeFi onboarding and user interactions. Validator staking limits are also raised, streamlining operations. Despite testnet challenges on Holesky and Sepolia, rigorous testing on the Hoodi testnet ensured readiness. Pectra sets the stage for the Fusaka upgrade later in 2025, reinforcing Ethereum’s competitive edge against rivals like Solana.