Key innovations of the first phase (Spring 2025)
Lower fees and improved scalability
Pectra aims to optimize the performance of both the Ethereum main network (Layer 1) and second layer networks (Layer 2, L2), such as Arbitrum, Optimism, zkSync, and Starknet.
One of the key changes will be the increase in the amount of "blob" data (temporary data introduced in the previous Dencun update) from 3 to 6 per block. This will improve the throughput of L2 solutions, reducing fees for users interacting with decentralized applications (dApps).
For example, the average fee on Ethereum is currently $1–5, while on L2 it ranges from $0.04 to $3. During periods of high load, these values can rise to tens of dollars. Pectra will help mitigate such spikes through more efficient load distribution.
Account Abstraction
Introduced via Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP-7702).
This innovation will allow users to pay transaction fees not only in ETH but also in other tokens such as USDT, USDC, or DAI.
Currently, if you only have USDT in your balance, you cannot make a transaction without buying ETH to pay for gas. After Pectra, this problem will disappear, making the network more user-friendly for newcomers and those who do not want to hold ETH solely for fees.
Account abstraction will also allow wallets to function as smart contracts, simplifying transaction management and enhancing security (e.g., through social key recovery).
Increase in staking limit
Implemented through EIP-7251.
The maximum effective balance for validators will increase from 32 ETH (approximately $70,000 as of March 2025) to 2048 ETH (about $4.5 million).
Currently, validators can only earn rewards on 32 ETH, and any additional accrued interest (e.g., 1.28 ETH per year at a 4% rate) remains "dead weight" — it cannot earn income until a new validator is created with another 32 ETH. After Pectra, validators will be able to earn rewards on the entire amount up to 2048 ETH and combine multiple validators into one, simplifying management and increasing profitability.
This change is particularly beneficial for large stakers (e.g., institutional players), but small operators will also gain more flexibility.
Simplification of fund withdrawals
Through EIP-7002, validators will be able to independently initiate fund withdrawals (both partial and full) using their execution layer credentials.
Previously, this required interaction with the staking operator and pre-signed messages, complicating the process. Now users will have more control over their funds.
Second phase (late 2025 – early 2026)
Improvement of data storage and network efficiency
Implementation of Verkle Trees — a new data structure that will reduce the amount of information stored by network nodes. This will make the network faster and more scalable, reducing the load on validator hardware.
The PeerDAS technology will improve data availability for L2 solutions, further enhancing their performance and lowering costs for users.
Optimization of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
EVM updates will make smart contract execution more efficient, speeding up dApps and reducing gas costs.
This is especially important for DeFi and NFT applications, where high fees often become a barrier.
What does this mean for users?
Regular users:
The ability to pay fees in familiar tokens (USDT, USDC) will simplify interaction with dApps, especially for newcomers.
Lower fees on L2 will make decentralized services cheaper and more accessible.
Improved network performance will reduce latency and make using Ethereum smoother.
Stakers (validators):
Increasing the staking limit and the ability to automatically accrue interest on amounts up to 2048 ETH will enhance profitability.
Simplification of fund withdrawals will provide more control and liquidity.
Reducing slashing penalties from 1/32 to 1/4096 will make staking less risky.
Developers:
A more efficient EVM and improved scalability will open new opportunities for creating complex dApps with lower costs.
Current status (March 2025)
On March 5, 2025, Pectra was successfully activated in the Sepolia test network, marking the final step before launching on the main network. This confirms that developers are in the final stage of preparation, and the first phase of the update is indeed set to begin in spring, presumably in April 2025.
