After two failed testnet launches in March, ETH developers were forced to delay the deployment of the Pectra mainnet upgrade, and the confirmed date of May 7 will be the launch date - the largest upgrade since the Dencun upgrade (03/2024).

Pectra – A comprehensive upgrade for Ethereum

The Ethereum Pectra upgrade on May 7 will include 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) being deployed simultaneously. These improvements not only optimize network performance but also introduce many new features for users and developers.

Among them, the most notable highlight is EIP-7251, a proposal that allows increasing the staking limit from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH. This helps reduce fragmentation in the validator system, especially benefiting those who are staking large amounts of ETH. Instead of having to split into multiple nodes, they can consolidate into a single node, thereby saving resources and reducing operational costs.

Smart wallet and improved user experience

Another significant change in the 2025 Ethereum upgrade is the deployment of account abstraction – a technology that allows Ethereum wallets to function as smart contracts. With this feature, users can:

  • Paying gas fees with various types of tokens, not limited to ETH (such as stablecoins).

  • Integrating a smart wallet recovery mechanism, allowing users to easily regain access if they lose their recovery phrase.

These improvements aim to simplify the user experience on Ethereum, making this blockchain platform more user-friendly for both newcomers and those who are not technically savvy.

The decision to finalize the date for the Ethereum Pectra upgrade on May 7 was made after the upgrade successfully operated on the Hoodi testnet, the final trial in a series of three test runs. The previous two testnets encountered issues, causing deployment delays. However, thanks to the stable results from Hoodi, developers are fully confident in Pectra's readiness for the mainnet.

In the context of increasing competition among Layer 1 blockchains, Ethereum is striving to maintain its position by enhancing efficiency, reducing complexity, and increasing usability.

Source: Theblock101.com