Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade has officially been activated on the Sepolia testnet. The upgrade was successfully deployed early on March 5, 2025, at approximately 7:29 AM UTC, as Ethereum core developer Terence posted on X. This deployment was crucial because it is the final testing phase before the mainnet is rolled out. The mainnet launch is scheduled for early April 2025.
The Pectra Upgrade
The Pectra upgrade includes several key Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIPs), including EIP-2935, EIP-7002, and EIP-7251. These proposals aim to enhance Ethereum’s scalability and efficiency.
Moreover, EIP-7215 increases the maximum amount of ETH that validators can stake from 32 to 2,048, facilitating smoother operations for larger validators.
Additionally, EIP-7702 introduces smart contracts capabilities for wallets, paving the way for innovative features such as gasless transactions and automatic payments.
Holesky Testnet Upgrade
The recent problem on the Holesky testnet, following the Pectra upgrade activation, was not about finalization directly, but there was a chain split that led to the failure of the testnet.
Three execution layer clients used the wrong validator deposit addresses, creating an invalid chain. Most validators ended up on this incorrect chain, leaving too few on the correct one to finalize blocks. Developers quickly resolved these problems and proceeded with the Sepolia deployment as planned.
Ethereum’s Sepolia Testnet Launch
The successful activation on Sepolia is expected to provide a more stable environment for testing before the mainnet launch.
The Sepolia testnet provides developers with a secure and efficient environment for testing various blockchain functionalities. It allows for smart contract deployment, transaction simulation, dApp development, and identifying code vulnerabilities without financial risk.
Developers can also test application interactions, implement token standards like ERC-20 and ERC-721, and evaluate how different transaction types are processed.
These features ensure a robust testing ground that mirrors Ethereum’s mainnet while minimizing risks and costs.
Ethereum developers are set to meet on March 6, 2025, to discuss the results of the Sepolia test and finalize the mainnet activation date. The Pectra upgrade is seen as a critical step in ensuring Ethereum remains competitive against emerging blockchain platforms amid increasing scrutiny from its community.
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