Ethereum developers are preparing to introduce the next upgrade to the network, Pectra, in March 2025.
This timeline was discussed during the last one Execution layer meeting on January 16, where key milestones leading to the activation of the main grid were outlined.
According to the developers, preparation will begin with finalizing the block numbers for the Sepolia and Holesky forks, which are expected to be completed by January 23 or 30.
After that, updated client versions will be released on February 3. The Sepolia fork is scheduled for February 12, followed by the Holesky fork on February 19.
These forks will perform shadow testing, simulating mainnet conditions to ensure realistic and efficient testing. This approach avoids creating an additional developer network, reducing complexity and thoroughly controlling the upgrade.
Christine Kim, a researcher at Galaxy Digital, acknowledged that the timeline remains flexible. She pointed out that unexpected issues during testing could cause delays, although optimism is growing about a March activation.
Kim warned on X:
“The above [date] is a tentative and optimistic timeline for pectra activation on testnets and mainnet. Bugs and issues in the code found during testing can delay the timeline.”
Pectra upgrade
The Pectra upgrade is described as Ethereum’s most ambitious hard fork and was initially split into two phases.
The first phase promises several improvements to improve the efficiency and usability of Ethereum. Highlights include updates to account abstraction, validator deployment processes, and deposit and exit mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Pectra’s second iteration is expected to introduce even more transformative changes. While no release date has been set for Pectra 2, it could include improvements such as Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) upgrades and the implementation of PeerDAS technology.
Combined, these features are designed to simplify user interactions while strengthening the network’s operational framework.