According to The Block, Ethereum core developers have decided during the execution layer meeting to launch the Pectra upgrade in the first quarter of 2025, following the successful implementation of the Dencun upgrade in March 2023.
Pectra represents Ethereum’s next major update, which will integrate the Ethereum Object Format (EOF) and cover around 11 improvement proposals. These proposals will enhance the performance of the EVM code in both Layer 1 and Layer 2.
Additionally, developers will include the proposal EIP-7251, also known as “Increasing the Maximum Effective Balance,” in Pectra. This change will allow the maximum Ethereum amount staked by each validator to increase from the current 32 ETH to 2048 ETH. The increased maximum effective validator balance will enable operators to manage fewer but higher-staked validators, potentially reducing management complexity.
Furthermore, developers will incorporate a proposal called EIP-7251, also known as “Increasing the Maximum Effective Balance,” in the Pectra upgrade.
Developers have also decided to replace the existing account abstraction proposal EIP-3074 with a new proposal called EIP-7702, introduced by Vitalik Buterin. EIP-7702 will introduce a new transaction type that allows Ethereum account addresses to temporarily function as smart contract wallets during transactions and revert to their original state after the transaction is completed.
