Ethereum Client Software Released for Pectra Deployment

Ethereum developers have released client software designed for Pectra deployment on the Holesky and Sepolia testnets ahead of the mainnet launch, anticipated in April.

The client releases covering various consensus and execution layers became available today. Before implementing upgrades on the mainnet, developers will test updates on test networks to ensure functionality without risking real assets.

The upgrade will first be tested on Holesky on February 24, followed by Sepolia on March 5. These tests simulate network conditions, analyze performance, ensure compatibility, and address any issues before the main network rollout.

An All Core Developers (ACD) call is scheduled for March 6 to finalize the mainnet upgrade date, currently expected for April 8—though this may change based on testnet results. Initially, developers aimed for a March rollout of Pectra on the mainnet.

Pectra represents a significant upgrade to the Ethereum network, focusing on enhancing scalability, security, and user experience. This upgrade features the highest number of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to date, including:

• EIP-7702: Enhancements for user experience in crypto wallets and account abstraction.
• EIP-7251: Increasing the validator stake limit from 32 to 2,048 ETH.
• EIP-7691: Doubling the max blob count to enhance rollup scalability.