Pectra update launched on Ethereum network
Ethereum's largest upgrade, Pectra, has been activated on the mainnet at epoch 364,032. This event is the result of the implementation of 11 key protocol improvement proposals (EIPs) aimed at improving the efficiency of the blockchain.
One of the main innovations was the addition of smart contracts to user wallets, which simplifies the management of funds and their recovery in case of loss of access. Before the launch of the update, the developers encountered difficulties in test networks. In Sepolia (consensus layer), a failure occurred due to an attack by an intruder, which complicated testing. In Holesky (execution layer), after the restoration of the network, it was not possible to verify the correctness of the validators' output, which required additional measures.
To address the issues, the Ethereum team launched a new long-term testnet, Hoodi, on March 17, 2025. It immediately deployed the Pectra upgrade to complete the final tests before a stable transition to the mainnet.
According to official data, key elements of Pectra are already operational in the main network:
- Smart contract-based wallets – simplify interaction with assets and increase security;
- Doubling the data storage capacity - increases the scalability of L2 solutions;
- Optimization of the validator interface - reduces the entry barrier for new network participants.
The developers emphasized that all functions are working normally, but they will carefully monitor the possible consequences of the hard fork over the next 24 hours.
