Ethereum, one of the most widely used blockchains, is preparing for a big update named “Pectra.” This upgrade is designed to make the network faster, more stable, and easier to use. Originally planned for early April 2025, the release has been slightly delayed as testing continues. According to Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko, the final upgrade may happen by April 30.
What Pectra Will Improve
Ethereum shared in a blog post that Pectra will help improve how accounts function and enhance the experience for validators. It will also boost the performance of Layer-2 networks like Arbitrum, Base, and Polygon.
Programmable Accounts for Better Security
One of the biggest changes in Pectra is the move towards smart contract-based accounts. These will allow users to switch from traditional private key accounts to programmable contracts. This change supports Ethereum’s goal of making accounts more secure and flexible using a concept called “account abstraction.”
Simpler Transactions, More Control
Thanks to account abstraction, users can now do multiple tasks in one transaction. This means no more separate approvals or extra steps to swap tokens. Everything can happen all at once.
Gas Sponsorship Brings More Payment Options
Pectra will also introduce a new feature called “Gas Sponsorship.” This will let users pay gas fees using tokens other than ETH, offering more flexibility.
Higher Rewards for Validators
Validators will also benefit from the upgrade. Pectra raises the maximum ETH balance for reward calculation from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH. Validators can now earn rewards on their full stake, and small stakers will enjoy automatic compounding rewards.
Meaning Behind the Name ‘Pectra’
The name “Pectra” is a mix of two inspirations: “Prague,” where Devcon IV was held, and “Electra,” a bright blue-white star in the Taurus constellation. The testnet for this upgrade was activated on February 24.
Previous Ethereum Upgrades
Before Pectra, Ethereum introduced several major upgrades:
- In March 2024, the “Dencun” upgrade helped reduce costs on Layer-2 networks.
- In April 2023, the “Shanghai” upgrade allowed validators to withdraw their staked ETH.
- In 2022, Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake with the massive “Merge” upgrade.
