Ethereum is gearing up for a major code change with the Pectra update, which will be the biggest change since the merger.
Author: Margot Neickerk | Edited by: Cheyenne Ligon Updated: May 6, 2025, 12:42 PM Published: May 5, 2025, 2:21 AM
Ethereum developers are gearing up for the long-awaited Pectra update on Wednesday, which is set to bring the biggest code change to the blockchain since the 2022 merger.
Pectra (a combination of the names Prague and Electra) are two upgrades that occur simultaneously on the Ethereum consensus and execution layers.
The update is aimed at improving the usability and efficiency of the Ethereum blockchain. Pectra consists of 11 key code changes, or “Ethereum Improvement Proposals” (EIPs), that will improve the staking experience on the network, introduce new features for wallets, and update the functionality of the blockchain.
One of the major changes that will be implemented in the blockchain is EIP-7702, which gives wallets smart contract capabilities, bringing them closer to a technology trend known as “account abstraction.” This change will allow wallets to include convenient features, such as the ability to pay gas fees using currencies other than Ether (ETH).
Another important change is EIP-7251, which will simplify the staking process for validators. After Pectra, validators will be able to increase the maximum amount of ETH they can stake from 32 to 2048; this means that those who stake through multiple validators will be able to combine them into a single node. This should reduce the time it takes to launch a new node and simplify the complex process of setting up hardware.
Some of the changes to Pectra have been planned for several years, although the developers originally intended to implement them in 2024. However, due to the complexity of the code changes, Pectra was delayed until Q1 2025. After the initial delay, the developers tested the update twice on two different testnets, and both networks encountered bugs, forcing the developers to create a third test, which delayed the update again.
“The Pectra fork is coming to the Ethereum mainnet soon! Please remember to upgrade your nodes,” Ethereum Foundation DevOps engineer Paritosh Jayanthi wrote on X.
The price of ETH has fallen nearly 42% over the past 12 months, while the broader market, the CoinDesk 20 index, has fallen about 1.5%.
Read more: Ethereum developers scheduled Pectra update for May 7
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