Ethereum's Pectra Upgrade Set for Testnet Trials
We're inching closer to mainnet launch of Ethereum's next big upgrade. Subscribe to Bankless or sign in Ethereum developers have scheduled the 'Pectra' upgrade for testing on the Holesky and Sepolia testnets in February and March.What’s the Scoop?Scheduled Testnet Deployments: The Pectra upgrade is scheduled for deployment on the Holesky testnet on February 24 and the Sepolia testnet on March 5.Key Improvements: Pectra introduces enhancements focusing on wallets and validators, including EIP-7702 for improved wallet user experience by implementing account abstraction and EIP-7251, which increases the staking limit for validators from 32 to 2,048 ETH which could also improve the throughput of the network through validator consolidation.Wen Mainnet Launch?: Following successful testnet trials, developers will meet on March 6 to finalize the mainnet launch schedule, with an expectation that the upgrade will hit mainnet in early April.Bankless Take:The Pectra upgrade represents a significant step forward for Ethereum, particularly in enhancing wallet functionality and validator operations. By increasing the staking limit, the network aims to streamline validator processes and improve scalability. This upgrade will also be a test for the EF which has faced scrutiny lately from community stakeholders, such as the VC firm Paradigm who released an article saying they should release updates on a more frequent basis.