Core Developers Finalize May Launch Date for Ethereum's Dual-Layer Pectra

Ethereum's core developers have confirmed the Pectra upgrade will launch on the mainnet on May 7, 2025, following a smooth final test on the Hoodi testnet

Ethereum’s core developers have confirmed that the Pectra upgrade will launch on the mainnet on May 7, 2025, following a smooth final test on the Hoodi testnet and weeks of coordination to resolve earlier technical issues.

The scheduling decision, finalized during the All Core Developers Consensus (ACDC) call #154 on April 3, sets client releases for April 21 and a mainnet announcement blog post for April 23. Pectra, a dual-layer hard fork combining the Prague and Electra upgrades, aims to enhance Ethereum’s scalability, security, and user experience across its execution and consensus layers. This marks Ethereum’s first major upgrade since Dencun in March 2024.

Pectra’s deployment follows three testnet trials, with the first two encountering bugs that delayed the mainnet timeline. The final Hoodi testnet trial, completed without issues, validated the upgrade’s readiness. Key features include doubling layer two data blob capacity to six blobs, reducing transaction fees, and introducing “Smart Accounts” that allow users to bundle transactions and pay fees in stablecoins like USDC.

Technical enhancements under Pectra include Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), which lets nodes verify transactions without storing full data, and Verkle Trees, a data structure designed to optimize storage efficiency and support stateless clients. Over 20 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) are bundled into the upgrade, including EIP-7702 for account abstraction and EIP-7922, which proposes dynamic validator exit limits. Phase 2, slated for late 2025 or early 2026, will activate these advanced features.

Developers emphasized that Pectra builds on the foundation of Dencun’s proto-danksharding, which accelerated roll-up transactions. The upgrade underwent rigorous testing on Sepolia and Holesky testnets, with the latter serving as a dress rehearsal for validator operations. Core teams now shift focus to finalizing client software, with PeerDAS functionality advancing through its sixth devnet iteration.

The upgrade is expected to address persistent challenges like network congestion and high gas fees while improving interoperability between Ethereum’s execution and consensus layers. Developers also highlighted streamlined smart contract deployment tools and new cryptographic opcodes as wins for builders.

Pectra’s timeline remains contingent on stable client releases by April 21. Should delays arise, developers noted readiness to adjust the schedule, though Hoodi’s success has bolstered confidence. Ethereum’s protocol leads will continue monitoring progress during weekly ACDC and ACDE calls ahead of the May launch.