Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Delayed: What’s Next for the Network’s Major Shift?

Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Delay: How a Shadow Fork Could Keep Development Moving

Ethereum developers have decided to delay the launch of Pectra, the network’s largest upgrade since its transition to proof-of-stake in 2022. The delay follows a series of complications encountered during the deployment on the Holesky testnet. The upgrade, which is designed to bring significant improvements to Ethereum’s mainnet, will continue its testing phase on a “shadow fork” of the Holesky testnet.

Shadow Fork: Temporary Solution for Pectra Testing

The shadow fork is a temporary solution that will allow Ethereum developers to continue testing Pectra while awaiting the finality of the Holesky testnet. Alex Stokes, an Ethereum Foundation researcher, explained that the shadow fork would allow developers to move forward with the upgrade without additional delays caused by issues with Holesky’s finality. The shadow fork is expected to be operational as early as next week, providing a workaround to avoid further delays.

The shadow fork is expected to be shut down once Holesky achieves finality, which could take a few more weeks. However, Stokes noted that this timeline could be adjusted as the situation progresses.

Pectra Upgrade Faces Hurdles on Sepolia Testnet

The Pectra upgrade also encountered issues on Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet. On Wednesday, an error in custom deposit contracts caused some delays, but the problem was identified and resolved, allowing Sepolia to resume normal operations.

Phases of the Pectra Upgrade

The Pectra upgrade is set to roll out in two phases. Phase 1, initially planned for a mid-March launch, will introduce a staking limit increase and account abstraction, enabling users to pay gas fees with stablecoins like DAI or USDC. As of now, developers have refrained from setting a concrete launch date, citing the need for more information regarding the progress of both the shadow fork and the Holesky testnet.

The timeline for Pectra’s final deployment on the Ethereum mainnet remains uncertain as Ethereum developers continue their efforts to iron out remaining issues.

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