Ethereum developers launched the Pectra upgrade early Tuesday, marking a major step forward for the network.
The upgrade activated at epoch 364032 around 6:05 a.m. ET. It includes 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), making it the most extensive update to date.
Before the release, developers tested Pectra on Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi testnets. Holesky faced validator issues, while Hoodi’s successful deployment in March 2025 cleared the path for the final rollout.
This update builds on Dencun’s 2024 proto-danksharding release. Together, they pave the way for even bigger changes ahead, including Fusaka’s Verkle Trees and PeerDAS.
New Features Target Stakers, Developers, and Users
Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade isn’t just a routine patch — it’s a powerful overhaul aimed at making the network faster, cheaper, and more scalable. Packed with key proposals, this release targets critical pain points in staking, user interactions, and Layer 2 development.
Here’s how the main EIPs reshape Ethereum’s future.
Pectra tackles several network bottlenecks. Its main goals: better validator performance, smoother user experience, and stronger Layer 2 support.
EIP-7702 brings smart contract logic into user wallets. Users can now group actions, like swaps and approvals, into one transaction. This saves gas and time.
DApps can cover gas fees under EIP-7702, enabling freemium experiences. Wallets also gain social recovery tools, letting users restore access through trusted friends.
EIP-7251 increases the validator cap from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH. Big stakers can now merge smaller validators, cutting overhead and boosting efficiency.
Smaller operators also benefit by managing fewer nodes. But some critics warn this could increase centralization.
EIP-7691 focuses on Layer 2 performance. It raises blob limits per block from 3 to 6 (target) and 6 to 9 (max).
Blobs help rollups like Optimism and Arbitrum reduce fees by up to 100x. With more blobs, Layer 2 networks can scale dApps faster and cheaper.
As more users shift to Layer 2, this upgrade helps developers keep pace with growing demand.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/ethereum-developers-have-activated-pectra-on-the-mainnet/