Ethereum just rolled out one of its most significant upgrades since the Merge: the Pectra update. Activated at epoch 364032, this update introduces 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) focused on user experience, validator optimization, and Layer 2 scalability.
Key Highlights:
EIP-7702: Enables account abstraction, allowing gas payments with tokens, multi-action transactions, and recovery via social logins.
EIP-7251: Raises validator balance cap from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, simplifying management but raising centralization concerns.
EIP-7691: Doubles blob capacity, boosting Layer 2 throughput for networks like Arbitrum and Optimism.
EIP-7002: Improves validator exit security via execution-layer controls.
EIP-2935 & 6110: Faster validator onboarding and enhanced historical data access.
Why This Matters:
Pectra builds on Dencun and sets the stage for Ethereum's next evolution — preparing for the upcoming Fusaka updateand improving the chain’s decentralization, security, and performance.
Bottom Line:
Ethereum is becoming faster, smarter, and more user-friendly. But the trade-offs around validator centralization are worth watching.
